In her first public comments since George Floyd's death in Minnesota roiled the nation, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said Monday she is "deeply disturbed" by the "action and inaction" that led to his death and others.

"Justice is the first need addressed by the people in the preamble of our nation's Constitution," Cantil-Sakauye wrote in a statement. "As public servants, judicial officers swear an oath to protect and defend the constitution.

"We must continue to remove barriers to access and fairness—to address conscious and unconscious bias, and yes, racism. All of us, regardless of gender, race, creed, color, sexual orientation or identity, deserve justice," she continued.