https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/courts-using-ai-and-cybersecurity-advances-improve-access-justice Courts Using AI and Cybersecurity Advances to Improve Access to JusticeMartin.Novitski Fri, 03/20/2026 - 12:40 Feature SAN FRANCISCO—A recent statewide technology summit convened hundreds of court professionals from around the state to talk about cybersecurity and how using artificial intelligence (AI) data can improve efficiency and benefit court users. The March 11 summit in San Francisco was the fifth of its kind hosted by the Judicial Council to bring courts together to share information and best practices on new technologies. How Advances in Artificial Intelligence Can Benefit Court Users Leaders from courts in San Diego, Orange, and Monterey counties led breakout sessions with topics ranging from understanding how AI can assist with translation and document workflows to discussions about maintaining guardrails to protect user data. In one breakout room, Judge Michael S. Groch from the San Diego Superior Court and Court Information Officer Brett Howard of the Orange Superior Court educated judicial officers and court executives on the use of AI. That session included an overview of Thomson Reuters CoCounsel, which can be used to improve judicial workflow, as well as demonstrated examples of what types of court work are safe to use with current generative AI technology. In her remarks to summit participants, California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero acknowledged that AI can benefit court users. “Whatever new needs and opportunities will arise, I’m confident we will remain committed to innovation, to collaboration, and to aligning technology with our judicial branch goals,” she said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration throughout the constantly evolving landscape of technology. “And with all of you together, we will continue to shape the future for the courts, ensuring that technology serves as a bridge to justice.” Midnote speaker, Kevin Roose, Technology Columnist for The New York Times, invited attendees to look ahead as he highlighted the rapid acceleration of AI, noting that emerging tools are making “everyone a programmer.” He also considered what comes next after Artificial Generative Intelligence (AGI), including AI constitutions, defining intent for AI agents, and navigating a future with vast numbers of highly capable machine intelligences. Cybersecurity and the Courts A second set of breakout sessions focused on the growing need for cybersecurity enhancements in court operations. Speakers from Orange, Mono, and Riverside counties, as well as the Fifth Appellate District, emphasized preemptive measures and preparation as key factors in bolstering cybersecurity to protect court users. For example, Mono Superior Court Executive Officer Lester Perpall and Riverside Superior Court Deputy Chief of Information Technology Tim Cool spoke to fellow court staff about the importance of diligence and follow-through to improving cybersecurity in the courts. “Failures don’t happen because we don’t care,” Perpall warned. “Most failures happen because we confuse appearance with execution.” In addition, Adam Dodge, attorney and founder of EndTAB (End Technology-Enabled Abuse), served as the keynote speaker of the event. He warned that new technology is actively being used internationally to defraud others in real time. “We’re putting really powerful tools in the hands of people who could never access this level of sophistication before,” he stated as he demonstrated how AI deepfakes can be used to create increasingly realistic scams using technology that is evolving every day. Retired California Supreme Court Justice Recognizes Technology Pioneers Former California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin presented the 2026 Justice Chin Technology Innovation Award to the Los Angeles Superior Court for its CourtHelp program, an AI-powered chatbot that helps web users navigate their court’s website. The award recognizes programs and projects that have increased access to justice through new technology. This is the second award of its kind, with the first one given to Alameda Superior Court at the 2023 Technology Summit. “It gives me great relief to find all of you still interested and progressing in the area of IT,” Justice Chin remarked as he closed the ceremony. “I encourage you to continue to do that, take it back to your courts, get more people involved and interested in IT.” Los Angeles Superior Court was honored with the Justice Ming Chin Technology Innovation Award for their CourtHelp program, a virtual assistant designed to help court users navigate the court’s website. (left to right) Matt Frederick, Technology Creative Director; Christopher Choi, Deputy Court Information Officer; Romulo Reyes, Deputy Court Information Officer; Raz Salehynia, Software Engineer Manager; Honorable Sergio C. Tapia II, Presiding Judge; Justice Ming W. Chin, Supreme Court Justice (ret.); David Slayton, Court Executive Officer/Clerk of Court; Mike Baliel, Court Information Officer; Jordan Aiken, Senior IT Manager- Infrastructure; and Luis Olachea, Deputy Court Information Officer. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/council-receives-preview-new-model-policy-provides-guidelines-safeguards-use-generative-ai Council Receives Preview of New Model Policy That Provides Guidelines, Safeguards on Use of Generative AI by CourtsCorren, Blaine Fri, 02/21/2025 - 15:02 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—At its business meeting today, the Judicial Council got a preview of a new model policy that will help ensure the responsible and safe use of generative AI by California courts. Courts will be able to adopt or modify the model policy as needed. “This is a positive step in a rapidly developing area,” said Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, who last year announced the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force to evaluate generative AI for its potential benefits to courts and court users while mitigating risks to safeguard the public. “We must balance the issues you’ve identified: accountability, transparency, confidentiality, and privacy protection.” Model AI Policy Includes Court Input, Creates Safeguards To ensure input from the policy’s eventual users, the task force surveyed state courts. The task force asked courts about any existing policies and ways in which they are (or are not) using generative AI. “We learned what topics courts intended to cover in their use policies, but also that many were waiting for guidance from the task force and the Judicial Council before drafting their own,” said Justice Mary J. Greenwood, a member of the AI task force. “That helped us establish what the task force should be working on.” Justice Greenwood shared that the model policy will provide courts with general guidelines for using generative AI in their daily, non-adjudicative duties, which includes direction on: Reviewing generative AI material for accuracy, completeness, errors, and hallucinations   Ensuring AI material is not biased, offensive, or harmful   Disclosing if generative AI outputs make up a substantial portion of a written or visual work provided to the public Working on More AI Guidance for Court Staff and Judges In addition to introducing the model AI policy, the task force also detailed its ongoing work. The task force plans to develop further direction for courts adopting their own generative AI policies, as well as guidance for judicial officers using AI in their adjudicative role. The task force hopes to develop a rule of court and a standard of judicial administration on these additional issues in the coming months. Watch Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Caseflow Management Update: The chairs of the council’s Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Court Executives Advisory Committee told meeting attendees that effective caseflow management is “a duty of both judges and court executive officers” and that “resolving cases in a timely manner is critical to ensuring court users’ rights are protected.” The presenters also shared that courts use technology and data to measure caseflow and to help them ensure compliance with standards for the timely disposition of cases. A council caseflow management subcommittee will convene in March to continue working on the issue and will keep the council updated on its progress. Watch Certification Programs for American Sign Language (ASL) Court Interpreters: To help increase the number of ASL interpreters, the council approved revised guidelines to modernize the application process for program certification, support the recognition of additional ASL court interpreter testing entities as they become available, and maintain rigorous certification standards while expanding the pool of qualified interpreters. ASL interpreting is the fourth-most interpreted language in the California courts.  Watch Addressing Costs to Provide Court Interpreters: The council voted to augment its funding for court interpreters to address shortfalls due to increasing costs and expenses. The allocations will help maintain current levels of interpreter services for court users. Watch Funding for Courthouse Lactation Spaces: The council approved a report to the Legislature that details how the judicial branch has added 32 new lactation spaces for the public at its courthouses, as well as plans to complete an additional 71 in the next 18 months. More state funding is needed to address the remaining, assessed need for an additional 154 more lactation spaces in superior court facilities statewide. Watch Partial Restoration of Trial Court Operations Funding: The council approved the allocation of the approximately $42 million funding restoration provided by the state to partially offset the $97 million reduction to trial court operations funding included in the Budget Act of 2024. The funding restoration will help courts restore services and expand clerk counter hours for the public that were decreased in response to the $97 million reduction. Watch New Judicial Council Member Sworn in: Chief Justice Guerrero swore in the council’s newest member Assistant Presiding Judge Ricardo R. Ocampo, whose term on the council began Jan. 1, 2025, and will run to Sept. 14, 2027. He replaces Judge Michelle Williams Court, who was appointed to the federal bench in November 2024. Watch The complete meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center--an archived webcast of today’s meeting will be posted to the center as soon as it is available. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/new-california-laws-going-effect-2025 New California Laws Going Into Effect in 2025Karen.Datangel Tue, 12/31/2024 - 17:08 Feature Cracking Down on Retail Theft Organized retail theft is permanently codified into California law through AB 1802 and SB 982. It is now considered a felony to possess over $950 of items obtained through retail theft with the intention to resell (AB 2943). Similarly, breaking into vehicles to steal property valued at $950 or more with the intention to resell is now also considered a felony (SB 905). Juvenile Dependency and Child Welfare Effective immediately, child custody proceedings involving Indian children must follow the California Indian Child Welfare Act. This means conducting inquiry on the child’s possible Native American heritage and tribal membership eligibility at the first court appearance. Parties and persons present at the proceedings must also inform the court if they receive information about the child’s possible Native American heritage. (AB 81) Collaborative Courts A few changes will affect collaborative justice courts, which combine judicial supervision with rehabilitative services. If a defendant is charged with a drug offense, courts are required to order an available drug treatment or education program. (AB 2106) A probation officer can refer offenses to youth court (with consent from the youth and family) as opposed to filing a petition to declare the youth as a dependent or ward of the court under SB 1005. Under SB 1323, courts are now allowed to make competency determinations based on written evaluations by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. Additionally, courts may refer incompetent defendants charged with felonies to mental health diversion programs. Furthermore, under SB 1400, if a defendant is incompetent to stand trial in a misdemeanor case, the court must consider referral to diversion or other options and subsequent dismissal at certain timeframes. Under SB 910, treatment courts in California will need to operate in accordance with state and national guidelines, and the Judicial Council will be required to revise drug court standards of administration by Jan. 1, 2026. Felony offenses will be added to pretrial diversion programs in veterans court under SB 1025. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic across all industries and especially in California. The state will implement the CA Transparency Act, which requires AI businesses to identify AI-generated content (SB 942). This law will be set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Courts and Access to Justice The CARE Act has been implemented in all California counties as of Dec. 1 of this year. Starting July 1, 2025, California courts will be required to provide ongoing notice of CARE Act proceedings to original petitioners (SB 42). In continuing the council’s commitment to access to justice, AB 170 will extend remote proceedings in juvenile and civil cases. Courtrooms utilizing remote technology will need to meet minimum standards set by the Judicial Council, as well as provide regular reporting to the courts and the council. Other Laws of Note  Starting January 1, 2025, tenants will have 10 days to respond to an unlawful detainer summons and complaint, doubling the previous 5-day deadline that has been in effect since 1971 (AB 2347). Under AB 1186, minors can no longer be charged with restitution fines and any outstanding balances of these fines will be uncollectible and unenforceable 10 years after they were imposed. Read the full 2024 Summary of Court-Related Legislation https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judicial-council-hear-about-california-courthouse-sustainability-efforts Judicial Council to Hear About California Courthouse Sustainability EffortsCorren, Blaine Fri, 09/13/2024 - 16:43 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its September 20 meeting will hear a presentation on current sustainability efforts the judicial branch is employing at courthouses across the state. The presentation will focus on key projects that enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, conserve water, and improve waste management. Efforts include: Water conservation Solar procurement EV (electric vehicle) charger installations Setting additional sustainability standards for courthouse construction Currently, the state judicial branch has already achieved either gold or silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for 21 courthouses across the state and has seven more certifications in progress. LEED certification is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance “green” buildings. Judicial Branch Takes Lead on Environmental Law The council will receive an update on the importance of environmental law as an emerging area of legal practice. The presentation will include an overview of environmental law and climate change, and the role of the California judiciary as a thought leader and leader in judicial education. The council will hear about California’s intricate regulatory framework, standards, and diverse geography and ecosystems that make environmental law such a complex area of the law. The presentation will also detail how education for the state’s judges is preparing them to preside over these complex cases. Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Revisions to Judicial Branch Contracting Manual: The council will consider proposed revisions to the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual. The proposed revisions would implement the recommendation from the California State Auditor to add fraud reporting requirements that are substantially similar to the State Administrative Manual. New Court Rules and Forms: The council will consider 28 agenda items related to new rules and forms to help implement new legislation or improve case procedures. These include changes in the areas of appellate procedure, civil, criminal, protective orders, probate/conservatorships, traffic, and family and juvenile proceedings. The complete council meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center. A link to a live webcast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website on the day of the meeting. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/video-generative-artificial-intelligence-and-california-courts Video: Generative Artificial Intelligence and the California CourtsBalassone, Merrill Mon, 08/19/2024 - 15:16 Feature Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero launched a task force this summer to evaluate a technology poised to impact nearly every part of our lives, including California courts—generative artificial intelligence (AI). “Generative AI brings great promise, but our guiding principle should be safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process,” Chief Justice Guerrero said. “That means it will be essential for the branch to assess what protections are necessary as we begin to use this technology.” We spoke with Gary Marchant, Regents Professor at the Arizona State University College of Law, about how courts might use generative AI to their benefit; the challenges of AI, and steps the Judicial Council might take to study, use, and develop guidance regarding this technology. "We'll look back 10 years from now and see this as a transformative time period in our history for the courts, for society, for every industry generally," Marchant said. "How we handle this transition is going to be a big challenge—it's something that has to be done carefully but with some optimism that this could really make things better." Watch his full interview with the California Courts Newsroom below: https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/qa-generative-artificial-intelligence-and-california-judicial-branch Q&A: Generative Artificial Intelligence and the California Judicial Branch Balassone, Merrill Mon, 08/12/2024 - 13:56 Feature In her 2024 State of the Judiciary address, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero set her sights on generative artificial intelligence as a major priority for the California judicial branch.   “Society, government, and, therefore, our court system must address the many issues and questions presented by the developing field of artificial intelligence. We must do this in careful and deliberative fashion,” Chief Justice Guerrero said. Chief Justice Guerrero tasked Administrative Presiding Justice Mary Greenwood of the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District and Judge Arturo Castro of the Superior Court of Alameda County to lead the branch’s initial efforts to identify foundational questions as the branch considers opportunities and challenges associated with AI. Justice Greenwood and Judge Castro shared their insights at a recent Judicial Council meeting and answered questions for the California Courts Newsroom about this fast emerging technology: Q: Should California’s judicial branch be using AI? Justice Greenwood: “Quite frankly, it’s inevitable. Attorneys who appear in front of us are going to be using it, law schools are starting to teach it, and there are legal research products that use generative AI.  But generative AI is a tool—it's not a substitute for judicial discretion or due process. A person accepting a decision made by our courts and judges depends greatly on feeling heard and having their concerns addressed. Generative AI is a machine that cannot do that: we do that.   Generative AI is based on mathematical predictions, and predictions look backwards based on past data. It’s very difficult to conceive that generative AI would have looked at society in 1954 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education [which held state-sanctioned school segregation to be unconstitutional] and would’ve thought this is a good idea. And that is so foundational to what we do.”  Q: In what ways can (or should) generative AI be used in California courts? Judge Castro: “We need to explore the possibilities. Could AI improve court administration? Can it make jobs easier? Can AI enhance research and analysis? Can it enhance access to justice? I think about self-represented litigants and the potential for AI to promote access to justice by helping someone walk through a process they’re going to encounter in the courthouse or even just filling out forms–harnessing technology for the good.”  Q: How can public trust and confidence in the courts be preserved given the challenges posed by this technology?    Justice Greenwood: “We’re going to have to address the risks of generative AI to preserve public trust and confidence. The data used by AI is not pristine—it includes biases based on gender, ethnicity, politics, and values. There are also risks around transparency and accountability. Even the engineers who develop AI models say they’re not quite certain how they work. That's troubling because the judicial branch must be accountable and transparent.  It also raises privacy, confidentiality, and safety concerns with information in our case management system. If that information pours out into large language models, that information no longer belongs to us or to the user. So, it’s very important the branch remain very concerned about privacy. These are some of the issues that the Artificial Intelligence Task Force will be considering.” Q: How can the branch maintain confidentiality and privacy if generative AI is used? Judge Castro: “This concern for us as a branch is second nature—we’re very sensitive to privacy considerations. Users of generative AI often have to consent to their information being put into the model, but they may not be aware of that. This means that just by using a generative AI model, any information a user provides, or input might be included in the programming of that model and could later be exposed to other users. So, we need to understand how that impacts the work of the courts, a court’s work product itself, and our responsibility to keep a person’s private information confidential whenever necessary. The issue of confidentiality and privacy is another area that the Artificial Intelligence Task Force will focus on.” Q: How do judicial ethics come into play?  Justice Greenwood: “Generative AI raises a lot of potential questions related to judicial ethics. One of the central questions is: how do we ensure AI does not result in the improper delegation of judicial decision-making? It’s one thing to use a generative AI tool to review 41 boxes of court reporter transcripts in an extremely complicated case. It’s another thing to say, 'Who wins?' But you can see it become a slippery slope, so that’s going to have to be considered. There are other important questions as well, and this is why one of the next steps the Chief Justice has announced for the branch is to work with the California Supreme Court’s ethics committees to develop guidance on how judicial officers should navigate ethical issues associated with generative AI.”