It has been 29 years since an African American man has served on the court, the governor's office noted in announcing Jenkins' appointment Monday, October 5.
He has served as Newsom's judicial appointments secretary since 2019."Justice Jenkins is widely respected among lawyers and jurists, active in his Oakland community and his faith, and is a decent man to his core," stated Newsom. "As a critical member of my senior leadership team, I've seen firsthand that Justice Jenkins possesses brilliance and humility in equal measure.
The people of California could not ask for a better jurist or kinder person to take on this important responsibility."Jenkins, 66, would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Ming W.