The pro/con statements below indicate the great depth of disparity in the Rose Bird debate, and to our core question, "Should Chief Justice Rose Bird be Reconfirmed (in the 11/4/96 California Election)?"

Chief Justice Bird voted with the majority of the court 94.8% of the time in reversing 55 of 58 death penalty cases.

Chief Justice Bird has voted to reverse 100% of the 58 death penalty cases reviewed by the California Supreme Court.

The California Supreme Court has upheld convictions in more than 90% of all criminal appeals since Chief Justice Bird joined the court.

Between 1977 and 1982 Chief Justice Bird handed down verdicts that favored the defendant in about 75% of the cases reviewed by the court.

Chief Justice Bird is a thoughtful, thorough jurist.

Chief Justice Bird's decisions are too often based on personal bias.

4.

Chief Justice Bird has been widely praised for her administrative competence.

Chief Justice Bird's administration of the court has been poor.

5.

Six of 15 U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justices, including the highly regarded Earl Warren, had no prior judicial experience.

Prior to her appointment to the California Supreme Court, Chief Justice Bird had no judicial experience.