Rose Bird

Rose Elizabeth Bird (1936-1999) was the first female Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 1977, she served until 1987 when she was removed from office in a retention election.

Bird's tenure was marked by controversy, primarily due to her opposition to the death penalty. During her time as Chief Justice, the California Supreme Court overturned a large number of death penalty convictions. This led to intense political opposition, culminating in a well-funded campaign to oust her and two other justices, Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin, in the 1986 election.

Opponents argued that Bird was biased against the death penalty and that she manipulated rulings to prevent executions. Supporters contended that she was a principled jurist committed to upholding the law and protecting the rights of the accused.

The campaign against Bird, Reynoso, and Grodin proved successful. All three justices were voted out of office, marking a significant turning point in California's judicial history and influencing the composition of the state Supreme Court for years to come.

Bird's legacy remains a subject of debate. She is remembered both as a trailblazing figure for women in law and as a controversial figure whose decisions significantly impacted California's criminal justice system.