https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judicial-council-approves-updated-parameters-assess-judicial-workload-and-need Judicial Council Approves Updated Parameters to Assess Judicial Workload and Need natalie.l.ston… Fri, 10/16/2026 - 15:08 News Release SAN FRANCISCO- The Judicial Council at its Oct. 16 business meeting adopted updated parameters to help assess judicial need in trial courts. As part of the 2026 Judicial Workload Study, the updated parameters adjust the judicial work year, the judicial workday value, and caseweights—the amount of judicial time certain types of cases require. The parameters are periodically updated to accurately reflect judicial workload, which can change over time due to new laws, technology, or case-processing practices that may affect how much time it takes to process each court filing.  “The Judicial Workload Study rests on the participation of more than 1,200 judicial officers and 18 courts who recorded their time for 4 weeks during a very busy period in the courts,” said retired Judge Thomas E. Kuhnle, vice chair of the council’s Data Analytics Advisory Committee. “The study had a 98% participation rate. The result is the most comprehensive picture of judicial workload this branch has ever had.”  The council approved the proposed workload study with one amendment—raising the updated judicial workday value to 431 minutes of case-related time per working day.  The council also approved the use of the 2026 Judicial Workload Study as the basis to allocate 13 judgeships that have been funded in the governor’s budget over the next five years. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Other Items on the Council Meeting Agenda:  Certification Changes for Court Interpreters: The council approved changes to the California court interpreter certification requirements, including an orientation, an additional screening exam, and allowing candidates to carry over passing scores on individual sections of an exam for up to two years. These changes are recommended to improve candidate success and expand the pool of qualified court interpreters. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) New Payment Policies for Independent Contractor Interpreters: The council approved raising the maximum daily compensation rate for independent contractor interpreters. The council raised the daily compensation rates to the federal levels to address increased interpreter costs while ensuring compliance with the statutory limit that rates not exceed those paid to federally certified court interpreters. The council also approved a new statewide framework to ensure all courts use the same contract terms for contract interpreter services. The framework includes standardized nonnegotiable rates, travel compensation, contractual obligations, and administrative procedures to be used by all courts. The policy also promotes the use of remote video interpreting when appropriate. (Watch archived video of this agenda item)   Pilot Program for American Sign Language Interpreters: The council authorized a pilot program to evaluate the limited use of qualified American Sign Language (ASL) Generalist Interpreters, credentialed interpreters who are not currently certified as ASL court interpreters. Six to 10 volunteer courts will participate in the program, which includes safeguards such as using these generalist interpreters for only non-complex, non-evidentiary hearings and requiring training, as well as specific testing and ethics requirements. Participating courts and council staff will closely monitor the program and user experiences. The program will also provide ASL generalist interpreters with a pathway towards certification, supporting the development of a qualified ASL court interpreter workforce that can meet the demand of the fourth-most requested language in California courts. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Court Adoption and Permanency Month Proposal: The council proclaimed November 2026 to be Adoption and Permanency Month, with a special focus on the work of juvenile courts to support guardianship. When reunification or adoption is not possible, guardianships provide a pathway to a safe, permanent placement for children. In 2025, approximately 10% of children who exited foster care were through a legal guardianship. The council heard a presentation from a guardian about the legal recognition and essential resources guardianship provided for their family. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Grant Funding for Court Appointed Special Advocates: The council approved the allocation of $19.9 million in grant funding for the California Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. The council provided $16 million in funding, to be distributed equitably between the state’s 45 local CASA programs, to expand capacity, recruitment, and training of volunteers to advocate for children under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court. Another $3.9 million was provided to be used statewide for recruitment initiatives, developing a training curriculum, and collecting data on program implementation and outcomes.  The complete meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center and 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/judicial-council-approves-trial-court-funding-will-help-ensure-access-court-users Judicial Council Approves Trial Court Funding That Will Help Ensure Access for Court UsersCorren, Blaine Fri, 07/17/2026 - 12:54 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its July 17 meeting approved statewide funding for trial court operations included in the most recent state budget signed by Gov. Newsom. The funding for fiscal year 2026–27 includes money for staffing, interpreters, court-appointed dependency counsel, continued implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, and other costs associated with trial court operations. “These allocations are the primary funding source for the trial courts and are essential to support court operations and sustain critical programs and services for the public,” said Judge Jonathan Conklin, chair of the council’s Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee. The council uses an established formula based on court workload to allocate the funding equitably among the 58 superior courts in California. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Legal Services for Low-Income PartiesThe council approved $54 million in state funding allocated over the next three years to fund the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, which supports projects providing legal representation and improved court services for low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. These projects address housing, domestic violence, civil harassment, probate conservatorships, guardianships, elder abuse, and child custody matters. “The Shriver program is California’s commitment to ensuring meaningful access for low-income litigants facing issues that affect basic needs,” said Judge Judith Dulcich. “For example, Shriver-funded attorneys are essential in helping self-represented litigants navigate evolving eviction procedures, rental assistance programs, and complex housing laws.”  (Watch the archived video of this Consent Agenda item) Other Items on the Council Meeting Agenda: Updated Plan for Court Construction: The council approved the Judicial Branch Five-Year Infrastructure Plan and five capital-outlay budget change proposals for fiscal year 2027–28. The plan represents the funding needs for new courthouse construction, as well as renovations and additions to existing facilities. The rating and ranking criteria looks at a number of factors related to courthouse conditions, such as seismic strength, safety and security, ADA compliance, and access to court services. Courthouse construction follows standardized and previously approved courtroom layouts, which saves time and money. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Upgrading Court Technology: The council approved $12.5 million in state grant funding provided to help courts expand their use of technology, including projects related to cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, case management systems, and e-filing. Courts requested nearly $63 million in grant funding, demonstrating the substantial gap in available funds and the courts desire to use technology to improve court operations and services to the public. Due to the limited funding, the council encourages courts to collaborate on shared technology projects. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) Grants to Improve Jury Service: The council approved $600,000 in state grant funding to improve jury service management, including money for jury management systems upgrades, self-check-in kiosks, A/V equipment, and other tools that would increase efficiency and improve the experience of potential jurors called to serve. Grants to Expand Language Access: The council approved $2.35 million in state grant funding to expand language access for court users. Funding will be included for court projects related to interpreter equipment, translation of court website information, and multilingual kiosks and audio/visual systems. Budget Change Proposals: The council approved budget change proposals to the California Department of Finance for consideration in the fiscal year 2027-28 budget, which include increased funding for court-appointed counsel, technology, cybersecurity, and courthouse maintenance. The budget change proposals represent the highest values and priorities of the state judicial branch and support increasing access to justice for all Californians. (Watch archived video of this agenda item) 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/judicial-council-consider-funding-proposals-trial-court-operations Judicial Council to Consider Funding Proposals for Trial Court OperationsCorren, Blaine Fri, 07/10/2026 - 16:33 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its July 17 meeting will consider recommendations on how to allocate funding to the trial courts included in the most recent state budget signed by Gov. Newsom. The funding recommendations for fiscal year 2026–27 include how to allocate money for staffing, interpreters, court-appointed dependency counsel, continued implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, and other costs associated with trial court operations. The recommendations use an established formula based on court workload to allocate the funding. Other Items on the Council Meeting Agenda: Budget Change Proposals: The council will consider submitting 24 budget change proposals to the California Department of Finance for consideration in the fiscal year 2027-28 budget, which include increased funding for new judgeships, court-appointed counsel, technology, interpreters, cybersecurity, and new courthouse construction and maintenance. Updated Plan for Court Construction: The council will consider the Judicial Branch Five-Year Infrastructure Plan and five capital-outlay budget change proposals for fiscal year 2027–28. The plan represents the funding needs for new courthouse construction, as well as renovations and additions to existing facilities. Upgrading Court Technology: The council will consider a proposal to allocate $12.5 million in grant funding to help courts expand their use of technology, including projects related to cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, case management systems, and e-filing. Legal Services for Low-Income Parties: The council will consider funding recommendations totaling $54 million over the next three years under the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act to support projects providing legal representation and improved court services for low-income parties on critical legal issues affecting basic human needs. These projects address housing, domestic violence, civil harassment, probate conservatorships, guardianships, elder abuse, and child custody matters. Grants to Improve Jury Service: The council will consider a proposal to allocate $600,000 in grant funding to improve jury service management, including money for jury management systems upgrades, self-check-in kiosks, A/V equipment, and other tools that would increase efficiency and improve the experience of potential jurors called to serve. Grants to Expand Language Access: The council will consider a proposal to allocate $2.35 million in grant funding to expand language access for court users. Funding would be included for court projects related to interpreter equipment, translation of court website information, and multilingual kiosks and audio/visual systems. 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/california-chief-justice-issues-statement-judicial-branch-budget California Chief Justice Issues Statement on Judicial Branch BudgetBalassone, Merrill Tue, 06/30/2026 - 11:34 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero today issued a statement on the judicial branch budget for fiscal year 2026-27:  I appreciate the Governor’s and the Legislature’s strong commitment to supporting the essential work of the judicial branch. The funding provided for California’s courts helps address increased operational costs for trial courts and rising costs for court interpreter services and appellate court-appointed counsel, and the funding also accelerates progress on the five-year infrastructure plan for courthouse construction and maintenance. The budget additionally includes funding for 13 new judgeships over five years to help meet ongoing judicial workload challenges in counties with the greatest need. These, and the other investments included in the budget, allow the judiciary to continue ensuring that people can access the courts to resolve their legal issues. We look forward to continuing this collaboration among our three branches of government as we strive to ensure fair, equal, and timely access to justice for all Californians.” https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-issues-statement-governors-may-budget-revise-2 Chief Justice Issues Statement on Governor's May Budget ReviseBalassone, Merrill Thu, 05/14/2026 - 20:26 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Thursday issued the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal for the judicial branch: As the state faces significant budget challenges, I appreciate Governor Newsom’s continued support of the judicial branch to protect access to justice for all. This includes increased funding for operational costs, court interpreters, and court-appointed counsel. We look forward to working with the Governor’s Administration and the Legislature to finalize the budget in the coming weeks.” https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-chief-justice-releases-statement-governors-budget-proposal-4 California Chief Justice Releases Statement on Governor's Budget ProposalBalassone, Merrill Fri, 01/09/2026 - 11:08 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Friday issued the following statement on the Governor’s budget proposal for the judicial branch: I appreciate Governor Newsom’s ongoing support of the judicial branch to ensure Californians continue to have access to critical services even during these challenging budget times.   The Governor’s budget proposal includes much-needed investments to keep up with the rising costs of trial court operations, to increase funding for court-appointed appellate counsel representing indigent defendants, to reduce case backlogs and workload pressures in our appellate courts, and to advance critically needed new courthouse projects.   As the budget is finalized in the coming months, we are committed to working collaboratively with the Governor’s administration and the Legislature to secure the resources necessary for the judicial branch to fulfill our mission of providing access to justice for all Californians.” https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judicial-council-continue-efforts-improve-availability-court-interpreters Judicial Council to Continue Efforts to Improve the Availability of Court InterpretersCorren, Blaine Fri, 12/12/2025 - 14:14 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its December 12 business meeting approved recommendations from a study on how to expand access to the pool of court interpreters able to assist the state’s nearly 6.4 million limited-English-proficient (LEP) residents and potential court users. Study considerations for the council include reviewing interpreter examination standards and content, adopting carryover scoring to aid candidates, and creating structured career pathways—including tiered systems and apprenticeship programs, particularly for Spanish interpreters. The study also advises that the council work with courts to develop a statewide directory for interpreters trained in video remote interpreting and continue expanding access to American Sign Language (ASL) and emerging languages. “There was broad agreement among the stakeholders for the recommendations and considerations,” said Court Executive Officer Anabel Romero, vice-chair of the council’s Court Interpreters Advisory Panel. “The study offers a roadmap for the branch to improve interpreter services for the public and to ensure our goals of high-quality equitable access for all Californians, regardless of the language they speak.” The study also calls for action by the Legislature, courts, and experienced court interpreters, which includes recommendations to continue adequately funding interpreter services, review and improve compensation packages, and develop mentorship programs. Watch Funding for Children’s Waiting RoomsThe council approved children’s waiting room fund balance cap adjustments requested by superior courts, which will allow them to continue planned operations and expansion of their children’s waiting rooms. The state encourages each courthouse to provide a waiting room for children whose parents or guardians are attending court proceedings. The waiting rooms offer professional childcare and activities, and protect children from the stress and potential trauma of courtroom environments. The Children’s Waiting Room (CWR) Distribution and Fund Balance Policy sets a cap on how much money each court may retain in its CWR fund. If a court’s balance exceeds this cap, the excess must be returned to the Trial Court Trust Fund for the benefit of courts statewide, unless the council approves a request from the court to increase the cap. For today’s meeting, the council received requests from five superior courts to increase their caps to cover costs related to maintenance and expansion of their children’s waiting rooms. By approving the requests, courts can retain this funding to support their waiting rooms. “This funding apparatus is a splendid example of the Judicial Council’s transparency in this aspect of our funding but also how efficiently we’re using this money,” said Judge Ann Moorman, chair of the council’s Judicial Branch Budget Committee. “Because of the biannual review that occurs, trial courts have to evaluate how much they need and how they use it, and then turn it back when they don’t use it. We can then support these five courts—Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clara—with their expanded financial needs using the same money that’s been allocated.” Watch Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules: The council adopted the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, 2026 Edition: Traffic, Boating, Forestry, Fish and Game, Public Utilities, Parks and Recreation, Business Licensing (UBPS). The UBPS includes schedules for traffic infractions, traffic misdemeanors, boating, forestry, fish and game, public utilities, parks and recreation, and business licensing. With specified exceptions, the traffic infraction schedule must be followed by the courts. On an annual basis, trial courts must also revise and adopt countywide schedules of bail and penalties for all misdemeanor and infraction offenses except Vehicle Code infractions. To achieve substantial uniformity of penalties throughout the state, courts must consider the UBPS in performing those duties. Changes to the annual schedules are primarily based on legislative changes but can also result from input by courts and justice system partners. Watch Trial Court Trust Funds: The council approved requests from trial courts under a program that allows them to request that a reduction in their Trial Court Trust Fund allocations be retained as a restricted fund balance for the benefit of those courts. The funds are then allocated back to the courts by the council for only the purposes stated in their approved requests, which can include projects related to technology infrastructure and upgrades, new audio and visual equipment, and courthouse maintenance and repairs. A report on this project funding is made publicly available on the California courts public website. Watch Legislative Priorities: The council approved the types of legislation it should support to increase access to justice for court users, which includes: adequate court funding to address increased costs; remote access to the courts while balancing due process; new judicial officer positions in counties with the greatest need; ensuring the availability of verbatim records of court proceedings; efficient court operations; and increased security to safeguard personnel, the public, and court systems from physical and cyber threats. 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/judicial-council-approves-trial-court-funding-proposals Judicial Council Approves Trial Court Funding ProposalsCorren, Blaine Fri, 07/18/2025 - 13:40 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its July 18 business meeting approved the allocation of funding to the courts provided in the fiscal year 2025-26 state budget, which includes money for court-appointed dependency counsel, continued implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, and other costs associated with trial court operations. “I want to express my appreciation for the commitment of Governor Newsom and the Legislature for maintaining critical judicial branch programs and services we need,” said Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. “This includes support for language access, treatment court programs, court-appointed counsel, and court facility improvements to ensure our courthouses are safe and secure.” Watch In addition, the council approved 16 budget change proposals to the California Department of Finance for consideration in the fiscal year 2026–27 budget, which include increased funding for costs associated with the Racial Justice Act, judicial security, language access, new courthouse construction and maintenance, and other judicial branch priorities. The proposals included an additional one raised during the meeting, but that wasn’t contained in the original council report. That added proposal seeks funding for an updated workload study of court-appointed counsel that represent children and parents in juvenile dependency proceedings. Judge Ann Moorman, chair of the council’s Budget Committee, presented the additional proposal, saying it will help determine updated caseload standards and the level of funding needed to support the court-appointed counsel program. “I believe this proposal aligns with our shared commitment to provide vital services to these children and families and ensure a strong court-appointed juvenile dependency system in California.” Watch Finally, the council updated its policy by which funding is allocated to the trial courts so it equitably accounts for potential changes to the judicial branch budget, such as budget reductions and restorations. Watch New Guidance for Courts That Use Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools The council approved proposals that address local court policies on the use of generative artificial intelligence for court-related work by judicial officers or court staff. The proposed new rule and standard focus on accuracy, supervision, and transparency when judicial officers or staff are using generative AI tools. They also address privacy, bias, and security risks posed by these tools. Courts that do not prohibit the use of generative AI would be required to adopt a use policy by December 15. Watch Funding to Continue Upgrading Court TechnologyThe council allocated grant funding to specifically help courts expand their use of technology. The funding will support projects related to cyber/information security, remote proceedings, data analytics, AI, and modernizing court technology infrastructure. The council also heard about success stories from courts that have received previous grant funding for technology projects. Court leaders described projects that converted paper documents to electronic court records, increased access to digital evidence for judges and litigants, and ensured disaster recovery during unexpected server outages. “The technology modernization funding allows each court to identify particular needs of their communities,” said Judge Kyle Brodie, chair of the council’s Technology Committee. “When awarding the program funding, we emphasize the need to use technology to improve access to our courts.” Watch Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Court Interpreter Use Study: The council received the latest Language Need and Interpreter Use Study, which details interpreter usage in trials courts for fiscal years 2020–21 through 2023–24 and predicts future language need. California courts recorded more than 2.5 million interpretations during the study period, which included remote and telephonic interpretations. Courts continue to prioritize funding for interpreter services, recruitment efforts, and remote services to help serve the approximately 6.4 million limited-English-proficient individuals in the state. Watch Updated Plan for Court Construction: The council approved the Judicial Branch Five-Year Infrastructure Plan and nine capital-outlay budget change proposals for fiscal year 2026–27. The plan represents the funding needs for new courthouse construction, as well as renovations and additions to existing facilities. Grants to Improve Jury Service: The council allocated grant funding to courts to improve the management of jury service. Funding priorities include self-check-in kiosks, electronic charging stations, and interactive voice and web services. Grants to Expand Language Access: The council allocated grant funding to expand language access for court users. Funding priorities include multilingual signage, audio/visual systems, kiosks, and websites. 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/chief-justice-patricia-guerrero-issues-statement-judicial-branch-budget-1 Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero Issues Statement on Judicial Branch BudgetKaren.Datangel Tue, 07/01/2025 - 10:03 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero today issued a statement on the judicial branch budget for fiscal year 2025-26:  During this challenging fiscal time, I appreciate the Governor’s and the Legislature’s commitment to maintaining critical judicial branch programs and services.  The funding provided for our courts—including support for language access, treatment court programs, court-appointed counsel, and facilities improvements—helps us perform our functions as a coequal branch for the benefit of communities throughout the state.  The judicial branch worked with our sister branches of government on budget solutions during this difficult time and we will continue that partnership as we implement efficiencies and safeguard equal access to justice for all Californians. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-issues-statement-governors-may-budget-revise-0 Chief Justice Issues Statement on Governor's May Budget ReviseBalassone, Merrill Wed, 05/14/2025 - 09:13 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Wednesday issued the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal for the judicial branch: As Governor Newsom strives to address a variety of risk factors with the budget solutions in his revised 2025-26 state budget proposal, we appreciate his ongoing commitment to mitigate the impacts on access to justice for Californians. We look forward to working with his Administration and the Legislature to finalize the budget in the coming weeks.” Governor's budget proposal for 2025-26