Tani Cantil Sakauye

Tani Cantil Sakauye recalls in her acceptance speech as nominee for the Supreme Court Justice of her humble beginnings with her mom on a  hot summer day at a Filipino meeting at the Elks Lodge in South Sacramento. The attorney Gloria Megino Ochoa was being honored by the Asian community for her efforts , pursuits and accomplishments . Her mother enthusiastically commented that she too could reach these challenges  and have a great and successful future. Her mother was right in her predictions. Tani worked fervently in her studies, education and responsibilities with a great work ethic. She is now nominee by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for Supreme Court Chief Justice !
Tani has grown up in Sacramento with her gorgeous Filipina mother Mary who worked as a farm laborer and her Filipino/Portuguese father who was born in Hawaii and worked in the sugarcane and pineapple plantations before coming to Sacramento. Her mom and dad  met at a soda fountain.Through the family tradition of hard work they managed to have the oppurtunity for Tani and her siblings for a good education. They may have been denied some material possessions because education was at the top of the list for priorities. Tani graduated from McClatchy High School in 1977. She attended Sacramento City College as a speech and debate major. She loved the idea of thinking and speaking on her feet. She graduated with an Associate Degree in 1978. Tani spent six months at Cal Poly as liberal arts major. Six months later her second semester was attended at UC Davis. She majored in rhetoric and knew she would apply to law school upon graduation in 1980. She began law school in King Hall.
Soon after she applied at the District Attorney’s office and her career began to blossom. In 1988 Tani interviewed for  a job as the Deputy of Legal Affairs counsel to Governor Deukmejian. During the next two years she worked closely with Justice Vance Raye who was the Governor’s Legal Affairs Secretary. When the governor left office in 1990 she was appointed to Sacramento Municipal Court judge as the youngest judge to sit on the bench. Her new position became a judge in the Third District Court of Appeal.
On July 23rd 2010 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced his nominee for Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye as his choice to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Justice Ronald M. George on January 2, 2011. If approved by the commission she will go before the voters on the November 2nd ballot for approval of a twelve year term. She would take office on January 3rd of 2011 if approved. If approved Tani Cantil-Sakauye will be one of three members of the court who are of Asian heritage, together with Justice Ming Chin and Joyce Kennard.
A tribute to her parents with hard work and struggle Tani Cantil Sakauye is destined to reach her most lofty ambitions.