Final answer:
Contract choice of law provisions typically specify which jurisdiction's laws will govern a contract, but California may override these if they conflict with the state's public policy. State judges generally follow U.S. Supreme Court rulings on federal issues but can interpret state constitutions to afford greater rights. This underscores the impact of state constitutions on individual liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns how choice of law provisions in contracts can interact with the public policy of California. A choice of law provision is a clause in a contract that specifies which jurisdiction's laws will be applied in the event of a legal dispute. Generally speaking, courts will honor the choice of law designated in a contract as long as the chosen law bears a reasonable relationship to the parties or the transaction, and the law is not contrary to a fundamental policy of a state with a materially greater interest.
In the context of California, the state's courts may refuse to apply the law of another jurisdiction if such application would be contrary to California's public policy. This reflects a broader principle where states, including California, can expand the rights and liberties granted to individuals under their state constitutions, even if they go beyond the protections offered by federal law as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Public policy exceptions allow courts to override the contractual choice of law to protect the rights that the state deems fundamental.
When a state judge encounters a conflict between state constitutional law and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, they will generally be compelled to follow the Supreme Court's interpretation with regard to federal constitutional issues. However, state courts may interpret their own state constitutions to provide broader protections for individual rights, thereby following both state and federal law. The evidence of states expanding rights under their own constitutions supports the notion that state constitutions have a direct and meaningful impact on the day-to-day lives of citizens.