Hearing set for California Supreme Court nominee

California Gov. Jerry Brown’s third nominee to the state Supreme Court this term is expected to be confirmed at a hearing in San Francisco on Monday.

Leondra Kruger’s nomination to replace Associate Justice Joyce Kennard will be considered by the three-member Commission on Judicial Appointments. If approved, Kruger would be the second African-American woman to serve on the state’s high court.

She would also likely continue to tilt the conservative-leaning court to the left.

The 38-year-old Kruger is a native of Los Angeles who has served in the legal counsel office of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Critics have questioned Kruger’s ties to California and her level of judicial experience. But Brown dismissed the criticism last week, telling a legal publication if those are the concerns about Kruger, her appointment is beyond reproach.