Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3020. Section 3020.
State officers elected on a statewide basis, members of the State Board of Equalization, and judges of state courts are subject to impeachment for misconduct in office.
ARTICLE 2. Impeachment [3020. - 3040.]
Cal. Government Code - GOV 2.
in effectCal. Government Code - GOV § 3020.5. Section 3020.5.
The Senate when sitting as the court of impeachment is a court of record. The officers of the Senate are the officers of the court.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3021. Section 3021.
All impeachments shall be by resolution adopted, originated in, and conducted by managers elected by the Assembly.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3022. Section 3022.
The managers shall prepare articles of impeachment, present them at the bar of the Senate, and prosecute them. The trial shall be before the Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3023. Section 3023.
When an officer is impeached by the Assembly for a misdemeanor in office, the articles of impeachment shall be delivered to the President of the Senate.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3024. Section 3024.
The Senate shall assign a day for the hearing of the impeachment and inform the Assembly thereof.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3025. Section 3025.
Not less than 10 days before the day fixed for the hearing, the President of the Senate shall have served on the defendant a copy of the articles of impeachment, with a notice to appear and answer the same at the time and place appointed.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3026. Section 3026.
The service shall be made upon the defendant personally. If upon diligent inquiry he can not be found within the State, upon proof of that fact the Senate may order publication to be made, in such manner as it deems proper, of a notice requiring him to appear at a specified time and place and answer the articles of impeachment.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3027. Section 3027.
If the defendant does not appear, upon proof of service or publication the Senate may, of its own motion or for cause shown, assign another day for hearing the impeachment, or may proceed to trial and judgment in the absence of the defendant.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3028. Section 3028.
When the defendant appears, he may object in writing to the sufficiency of the articles of impeachment, or he may answer the articles by an oral plea of not guilty.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3029. Section 3029.
If the objection to the sufficiency of the articles of impeachment is not sustained by a majority of the members of the Senate who heard the argument, the defendant shall be ordered forthwith to answer the articles of impeachment. If he then pleads guilty, or refuses to plead, the Senate shall render judgment of conviction against him.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3030. Section 3030.
If the defendant pleads not guilty, the Senate shall try the impeachment at the time it appoints. The plea shall be entered upon the Senate Journal, and puts in issue every material allegation of the articles of impeachment.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3031. Section 3031.
At the time and place appointed, and before the Senate acts on the impeachment, the secretary shall administer to the President of the Senate, and the President of the Senate to each of the members of the Senate present, an oath truly and impartially to hear, try, and determine the impeachment. No member of the Senate can act or vote upon the impeachment, or upon any question arising thereon, without having taken such oath.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3032. Section 3032.
The defendant can not be convicted on impeachment without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected, voting by ayes and noes. If two-thirds of the members elected do not concur in a conviction, he shall be acquitted.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3033. Section 3033.
After conviction and at the time appointed by the Senate, it shall pronounce judgment, in the form of a resolution entered upon the Senate Journal.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3034. Section 3034.
On the adoption of the resolution by a majority of the members present who voted on the question of acquittal or conviction, it becomes the judgment of the Senate.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3035. Section 3035.
The judgment may be that the defendant be suspended, or that he be removed from office and disqualified to hold any office of honor, trust, or profit under the State.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3036. Section 3036.
If judgment of suspension is given, during the continuance of the judgment the defendant is disqualified from receiving the salary, fees, or emoluments of the office.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3037. Section 3037.
Whenever articles of impeachment against any officer subject to impeachment are presented to the Senate, the officer is temporarily suspended from his office and can not act in his official capacity until he is acquitted.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3038. Section 3038.
Upon temporary suspension of any officer other than the Governor, his office shall at once be temporarily filled by an appointment made by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The office shall be filled by the appointee until the acquittal of the party impeached or, in case of his removal, until the vacancy is filled at the next election.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3039. Section 3039.
If the Lieutenant Governor is impeached, notice of the impeachment shall be immediately given to the Senate by the Assembly in order that another president may be chosen.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 3040. Section 3040.
If the offense for which the defendant is convicted on impeachment is also the subject of an indictment or information, the indictment or information is not barred thereby.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026