[8] In November 1852, the Democratic Party nominated Norton for Judge of the San Francisco county District Court, running against the Whig candidate, Delos Lake, who won by merely 21 votes.
[9][10][11] In June 1854, Governor John Bigler appointed Norton as a Judge of the Twelfth District Court, to stand at the next election.
[2][22][23] Chief Justice Stephen Johnson Field described Norton as a skilled trial court judge who was unsuited to the appellate bench.
[24] In October 1863, elections were held for all seats on the Supreme Court due to an 1862 amendment to the California constitution and 1863 enabling law, and Norton chose to retire rather than seek re-election.
The judge asked the second question, "If a man brought you a promissory note past due and wanted it collected by law in the most expeditious manner, what would you do?"