Nominated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for California's highest judicial office on July 22, 2010, and retained in office by California voters on November 2, 2010, she was sworn in on January 3, 2011.
Prior to her current appointment, Cantil-Sakauye had served in judicial offices on California's appellate and trial courts.
She is the first Filipino American and the second woman to serve as California’s chief justice.