Newsom’s Delay on Filling California High Court Seat: Explained

The California Supreme Court has been short a justice for more than six months since Martin J. Jenkins’ retirement, making it one of the longest high court vacancies in the Golden State’s history.

Under state rules, a nominee will come from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), whose second term concludes in January. And while the state’s coming June and November elections are likely playing into Newsom’s calculation on timing, the extended opening on the seven-member tribunal has largely left legal experts stumped.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law, said he has “no idea why it has ...