https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/justice-kelli-evans-and-justice-stacy-boulware-eurie-share-perspectives-diversity-courts Justice Kelli Evans and Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie Share Perspectives on Diversity in the CourtsKaren.Datangel Wed, 03/25/2026 - 14:58 Feature Justice Kelli Evans and Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie began their journeys in law as students at UC Davis at similar times, but neither expected their rise to the bench in California's appellate courts, as they first recounted in a conversation with each other during the Black History Month 2026 Closing Ceremony at the Judicial Council on Feb. 25. "As an attorney, I hoped and thought that one day I would eventually like to become a judge, so when I got appointed to the Alameda County court trial bench, I thought I had made it...and I would have happily retired there," said Justice Evans, associate justice of the California Supreme Court. "It was a surprise when I got the call from the governor saying he wanted to elevate me to the California Supreme Court." "While in law school, I dreamt of being a trial judge and when I was appointed in 2007 [to the Sacramento Superior Court], it was literally a dream come true," said Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie, associate justice of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District. "There's no way I could have anticipated or predicted the current seat I hold." The two justices shared the stage to discuss insights on diversity and inclusion in the courts, access to justice, the roles of judicial officers and court staff, and other topics. Following are highlights from their conversation. On the role of jurists in honoring diversity and inclusion Justice Evans: When I think about inclusion in particular, I think what it means is making sure people feel seen and are seen, feel heard and are heard, have a shot at opportunities, and in the court system, that they feel like it really works for them. Individual judges can do things in their courtrooms that embody these values. From the bench, you can treat all litigants with respect, make sure that you're implementing procedural justice in your courtroom. You can make sure you're using inclusive and accessible language. You can make sure you're explaining your decisions clearly, particularly to the person on the losing side of the decision. You can do things at a leadership level, like advocate for policies that help promote diversity and inclusion. Another thing judges and individuals can do is community outreach and engagement. The more that our communities understand about the justice business, the better it is for our court system and the more likely we are to have diverse and inclusive court systems. If we help everyone to understand they have a stake in it, they have an opportunity to participate in a system that can and should work for everyone. Justice Boulware Eurie: We're all familiar with systemic opportunities and/or barriers for diversity and inclusion, but I also think there's an individual level of opportunity and obligation to see who's at that proverbial table. No entity or structure is perfect but I do think our branch in particular is a mirror to society. The folks that come in through courthouse doors, those folks who support the work of the trial courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court reflect and should reflect California's citizenry. On the importance of diversity of perspectives and experiences in courts Justice Evans: In the California Supreme Court, we have seven justices who are responsible for making decisions that impact all 40 million of us in California. When you have people at that table who have diverse experiences like people who have been defense attorneys, have represented civil rights litigants, worked with law enforcement their whole lives, been subjects of racial profiling, have family members who have been incarcerated, or have been career prosecutors, that's a very rich discussion and it brings voices to the table that have long been missing. When I talk about diversity, I'm not just talking about race, gender, or sexual orientation - I'm talking about life experience, geography, practice areas, income, all sorts of things. I think it's important in the trial courts if not more important at the appellate court levels. The more people with nuanced perspectives who are part of a conversation, we'll have fewer blind spot errors, and we'll have a better understanding of potential impacts on various communities. Justice Boulware Eurie: When we talk about an impartial court and fair and balanced justice, I think some of that comes from diversity of thought, not just traditional values or experiences. Are there voices that are ensuring a check on the system and as drivers of procedural justice, that it's not just one voice being heard? Is there space for different perspectives and values on how the law is interpreted? I think it looks different in a Court of Appeal or Supreme Court because it's not a single individual judge making all the decisions in a courtroom. In the trial court, those different [perspectives can come from] roles of the prosecutor or public defender, or parents' counsel, minor's counsel, and county counsel. I'm pretty proud of California's courts because I think our branch is embracing the opportunities we're talking about. I thought about language and diversity of perspectives. In juvenile court, when we're dealing with children who are removed from their homes - particularly Black families and communities - we may hear "Hey, that's my cousin." You might later figure out "That's my play cousin" and having a bench officer who understands community relationships and ties that exist beyond blood helps to inform the decision-making in about what's in the best interest of the child. This is just one example of a type of diversity of experience and the opportunity for more informed decision making when you are hearing from and learning about different experiences. On court staff Justice Evans: Our clerks are procedural guardians. Our research attorneys carry an enormously important load as first line filters for the judges and justices for what's coming in and they often go through incredibly voluminous records. There are other court staff like interpreters, reporters, and self-help attorneys. There are court administrators who are doing work that make our courts accessible to the public. Our librarians are facilitating all of our access to material that we need to do our jobs. We've got court security personnel that are protecting our litigants and jurors. Sometimes this work is done under immense time pressure and public scrutiny. We're in a system full of unsung heroes. People know about judges, but people also need to know about the essential roles in our justice system that make it possible to seek and obtain justice. I also know that the more people learn about these roles - young people in particular - the more they're interested in our work. Young people may not be interested in becoming a lawyer or a judge, but would be really interested in one of these other roles. So the more we can share that information, the better. Justice Boulware Eurie: The one role I want to highlight is IT (Information Technology). In the Sacramento Superior Court in the period during COVID, we were spreading jurors out in different courtrooms and utilizing Zoom for them to hear and participate in selection. We had one particular IT member who was running from courtroom to courtroom, standing in the back -- not just to make sure the Zoom and speakers were working, but to make sure we could all be heard clearly. He was trying to stand in the shoes of the user, hearing what was happening in that courtroom or a different courtroom so there was meaningful participation. We know remote access is something the branch is very committed to and is super important. Advice for law students and aspiring lawyers Justice Boulware Eurie: Keep an open mind. I think a lot of people attend law school and go in with this vision of what it is that they want to do and just like undergrad, it's an opportunity for exploration. There will be an opportunity to learn so many substantive areas that you may not have been familiar with. As it relates to this conversation [around diversity and inclusion], I think of the growing importance of environmental law and looking at the demographics of law schools and who participates in those programs -- often I don't see people of color. Look not only where you can participate, but who can you bring along? What other spaces, clinicals, programs, and internships might you and your peers participate in? Is it always the same folks raising their hands? Is there a way you can nudge a colleague or peer to join you in a lunchtime conversation with a professor on a topic that you might otherwise think is dry as sand? Challenge yourself by learning something new in terms of perspective, life background, and the law. Justice Evans: Do what interests you. It might not be what everyone else is doing. Find people that you think are doing things that are interesting and exciting, and reach out to them and learn more. Try lots of different things and stay flexible. There's lot of different ways to be happy in any career but especially as a lawyer. Watch Justice Evans and Justice Boulware Eurie's full conversation. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/2026-judicial-demographics-report-california-bench-continues-grow-more-diverse 2026 Judicial Demographics Report: California Bench Continues to Grow More DiverseCorren, Blaine Mon, 03/02/2026 - 10:32 News Release Since December 2006: Number of female justices and judges is up 17.8 percentage points Percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic justices and judges has increased more than 140 percent For the 20th straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to the Judicial Officer (JO) Demographic Data report released by the Judicial Council. The data reflect demographic information self-reported by justices and judges on the bench as of December 31, 2025, with a response rate of 93%. Responding to the questionnaire is voluntary, and the data only reflects the responses provided. Per data collected in December 2025 (and published in March 2026), responding female justices and judges constitute 44.9% of the judiciary across all court levels, a 1.6 percentage point increase over the prior year and an increase of 17.8 percentage points since December 2006—the first time that data were collected for this purpose. The bench also has continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse. The percentage of responding Asian, Black, and Hispanic justices and judges has increased by more than 140 percent since 2006. Statewide, Multi-Branch Effort to Increase Judicial Diversity The Judicial Council’s Strategic Plan for California’s Judicial Branch makes explicit the branch’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive court system. The plan supports efforts like the council’s Pathways to Judicial Diversity toolkit, which encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups—including individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations—to educate and advise them about pursuing careers in the law. In addition, the Judicial Mentor Program is a statewide undertaking between the Governor’s office and the California courts to develop and recruit qualified and diverse judicial applicants—and the state’s appellate and superior courts also have their own local mentor programs. Progress on increasing judicial diversity has continued under our current Governor’s appointments. Since taking office in 2019 through 2025, more than half of Governor Gavin Newsom's 695 judicial appointments have been women justices and judges, and more than half also identified as Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Survey of California Bench The Judicial Council surveyed California judges and justices in December 2025 to get a snapshot of the demographics of the California bench—including gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Among the findings: Gender Of the responding judicial officers, data show the percentage of female justices and judges has increased to 44.9%, compared to 27.1% in 2006, continuing a steady upward trend. Race and Ethnicity The data also show changes over the past 20 years in the percentage of responding justices and judges reported in the following race/ethnicity categories: American Indian or Alaska Native (0.3% in 2025 compared to 0.1% in 2006) Asian (11.9% in 2025 compared to 4.4% in 2006) Black or African American (9.9% in 2025 compared to 4.4% in 2006) Hispanic or Latino (13.1% in 2025 compared to 6.3% in 2006) Pacific Islander (0.2% in 2025 compared to 0.1% in 2006) White (55.8% in 2025 compared to 70.1% in 2006) Some Other Race (1.4% in 2025 compared to 0.2% in 2006) More Than One Race (5.8% in 2025 compared to 4.4% in 2006) Information Not Provided (1.5% in 2024 compared to 9.9% in 2006) These changes reflect judicial retirements and other departures from the bench, new judicial appointments, and an increase in the number of trial court judges who voluntarily provided race/ethnicity information. Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation This is the 15th year that the study includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation, as required by a law passed in 2011. Survey respondents reported the following: Heterosexual – 80.9% Lesbian – 2.1% Gay – 3.0% Bisexual - 0.7% Transgender - 0.12% Nonbinary – 0.06% More than One Gender ID/Sexual Orientation – 0.3% Information not provided – 12.9% Veteran and Disability Status In addition, this is the 12th year that the study includes data on veteran and disability status. These questions were first asked of justices and judges who were new to the bench during the 2014 calendar year, although judges appointed before this date are free to update this aspect of their demographic profile as well. Of the 1170 active justices and judges responding to the question about their status as a veteran, 70 respondents (5.9%) indicated they have served in the military. Of the 1177 active justices and judges responding to the question concerning their disability status, 40 justices and judges (3.3%) indicated they have a disability. About Judicial Officer Demographic Data Government Code section 12011.5(n) requires the Judicial Council to collect and release aggregate demographic data on California state justices and judges by March 1 every year. This is the report’s 20th year. Increasing the diversity of California’s justices and judges to reflect California’s populace continues to be a goal of the Judicial Council. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-judges-receive-national-lgbtq-award California Judges Receive National LGBTQ+ AwardKaren.Datangel Tue, 02/11/2025 - 18:28 Feature Trailblazers in the LGBTQ+ legal community, Alameda County Judge Victoria Kolakowski and Los Angeles County Judge D. Zeke Zeidler received the 2025 Stonewall Award from the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. About the Stonewall AwardNamed after the New York City Stonewall Inn police raid and riot of June 28, 1969, which was a turning point in the gay rights movement, the national award recognizes lawyers who have advanced lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in the legal profession and successfully championed LGBTQ+ legal causes.  Judge Kolakowski and Judge Zeidler join Justice Martin Jenkins of the California Supreme Court as the award honorees from California. Justice Jenkins received the award in 2021. Judge KolakowskiElected by voters to the Superior Court of Alameda County in 2011, Judge Kolakowski is the first transgender judge in California and the first transgender person to serve as a trial court judge of general jurisdiction in the United States. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Kolakowski served as an administrative law judge and practiced as an attorney for 21 years in California and Louisiana. She is a former president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. Judge Kolakowski currently serves as a district co-director for California and Nevada in the National Association of Women Judges. “It’s important for people to see and understand that [transgender people] can be judges; we can be all sorts of other things,” Judge Kolakowski said in a 2024 interview. “It’s important for people to see that this is an option if it’s something that they could aspire towards, and I've been truly amazed and blessed by the number of people who've told me that they were inspired by me being a judge to enter the legal profession, or to seek public office because they knew that I had achieved this.” In her acceptance speech at the ABA's award ceremony held February 1 in Phoenix, Judge Kolakowski spoke about her journey to the bench, being a trailblazer in her profession, and being transgender today. “All the things I learned in law school about rights, equality, and freedom -- the things that this country has always stood for -- are protected by the people in this room,” she said in her remarks. Judge ZeidlerThe first openly gay man initially elected to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 2004, Judge Zeidler had previously been appointed as a Juvenile Court Referee in 1998 and continues to focus on juvenile issues. Like Judge Kolakowski, he is also a former president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. “A big part of judicial ethics is about treating people with dignity and respect and ensuring others are too," said Judge Zeidler in a 2024 interview. "The court deals with people from every walk of life. Understanding the litigants who come before us is a major part of the judicial branch’s dedication to diversity and inclusion." In his acceptance remarks, Judge Zeidler spoke on LGBTQ+ history and the importance of diversity on the bench. “What history teaches us is that we need to share our stories. We need to share who we are and what our experiences are.” See Judge Kolakowski and Judge Zeidler's full remarks on ABA News. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/celebrating-lgbtq-diversity-california-courts-sacramento-county-judge-andi-mudryk Celebrating LGBTQ+ Diversity in the California Courts: Sacramento County Judge Andi MudrykKaren.Datangel Mon, 06/24/2024 - 16:22 Feature This June, California courts and the Judicial Council of California join the nation in recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We've spoken with a few of our LGBTQ+ identifying judges and justices about their experiences serving on the bench and how increasing diversity serves the courts and the public. Judge Andi Mudryk was appointed to the Superior Court of Sacramento County by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2022. She is the first openly transgender person to be appointed to the bench in the United States. Prior to serving as a judge, Judge Mudryk served as chief deputy director and chief counsel at the California Department of Rehabilitation.  Following are video highlights and excerpts from a conversation with Judge Mudryk: *The text of the interview has been edited for length and clarity. On diversity on the bench: "Judges are public servants and we serve the entirety of California. California is the most diverse state in the nation, and our population includes people who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. It's incredibly important that the public see themselves in the bench. It lends to the legitimacy of the judiciary and allows judges to have knowledge of the communities that we serve. I oversee juvenile justice cases and I have transgender identifying kids who come before me. I had one 13-year-old boy who wore an undergarment necessary for his gender dysphoria. When he came into juvenile hall, the staff would not let him wear the undergarment because it was dirty and torn. I ordered them to allow him to wear his undergarment. They came back and they hadn't done it, and so I issued an order to show cause why they didn't abide by my ruling. Then they ordered many of these undergarments and provided one to the boy. I had knowledge of what gender dysphoria means and the importance of providing this clothing to this individual. I understood that the suicide rate for LGBTQ+ and particularly trans youth is exponentially higher than for the general public, so this example of assisting this young boy shows why it's important to have judges from all walks of life on the bench. [Being transgender and having a disability (brittle bone disease)] have given me perspectives about diverse people and their experiences. Most of my career was in disability rights work. Coming from a Jewish family, my father's a Holocaust survivor--his parents were murdered in the Holocaust. I am not seeing people as 'other' but understanding that everyone matters and justice matters. Because I have a disability, I'm able to understand somewhat what it's like for folks who have disabilities to come into the courtroom and navigate the process. For example, people need to hear what is said, so we have assistive listening devices in the courtrooms. We need to make sure people with mental and emotional health issues and other disabilities are able to come into court and that we allow for those accommodations." On her role models and being a role model: "One of my role models is Justice Shama Hakim Mesiwala, the first Muslim-American woman to be appointed to the California Court of Appeal. She strongly believes in a diverse judiciary and realizes many of us have been treated as 'other' and feel like we're ‘other’. I'm working to make sure those of us who are ‘other’ are included and are in positions of leadership. I didn't see anyone like me in positions of leadership growing up or throughout my career, and it's incredibly important for folks to see themselves in leaders. So I feel I have a tremendous responsibility in my role to be visible, to speak, and to be involved in the community at large so that people like me see themselves in a judge and realize they can be the judge. I'm co-chair of the LGBT Judicial Officers of California, on the board of the Women Judges Association, and involved in all of our affinity bar associations." On her career background and path: "I've experienced some feedback that those of us who bring diversity to the bench are not as qualified as others-- that we only were appointed because of our diversity. It's a trope we hear, and nobody says it right to our faces, but I want to address that because I have a stellar background and reputation. I believe I'm a good judge and I deserve to have been appointed regardless of my diversity. Many of us, including me, have had to fight harder for where we are than others who have certain privileges. I had many doors shut in my face early in my career and not being offered certain opportunities because of my diversity. I graduated with honors from a very good law school [George Washington University Law School]. I was a litigator, I'm licensed to practice in three states, and I have served in litigation director roles at nonprofit organizations overseeing class action litigation, challenging laws that negatively impact people with disabilities. I was incredibly well qualified to be appointed, as were my colleagues. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/celebrating-lgbtq-diversity-california-courts-los-angeles-county-judge-d-zeke-zeidler Celebrating LGBTQ+ Diversity in the California Courts: Los Angeles County Judge D. Zeke ZeidlerKaren.Datangel Mon, 06/17/2024 - 16:37 Feature This June, California courts and the Judicial Council of California join the nation in recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We've spoken with a few of our LGBTQ+ identifying judges and justices about their experiences serving on the bench and how increasing diversity serves the courts and the public. In 2004, Judge D. Zeke Zeidler was the first openly gay man initially elected to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Judge Zeidler had previously been appointed as a Juvenile Court Referee in 1998 and continues to focus on juvenile issues.  He is a former president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. Following are video highlights and excerpts from a conversation with Judge Zeidler: *The text of the interview has been edited for length and clarity. On the importance of diversity in California courts: "People often don't understand the full nature of diversity on the bench, because people often just talk about walking into a courtroom and seeing someone who looks like you. But diversity on the bench, from a judicial standpoint, also means we have judges involved in statewide committees working on policy, legal forms, and rules of court. I've been lucky enough to work with Judge [Victoria] Kolakowski, Judicial Council staff, and others on ways to ensure that our court forms are gender neutral. Because I do trainings on LGBT issues, I have judges who call me and say 'I'm about to start a trial with a hate crime case with a transgender litigant. Is there anything I should be asking in voir dire?' Having a colleague who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or nonbinary is something that educates judges and changes their view of the cases and parties before them. A big part of judicial ethics is about treating people with dignity and respect and ensuring others are too. The court deals with people from every walk of life. In every single county in California, we have same-sex couples who are married and/or are raising children, who come to the court to help resolve any issues they have. Understanding the litigants who come before us is a major part of the judicial branch’s dedication to diversity and inclusion." On access to justice: "I'm lucky enough to have gotten involved very early in statewide judicial education around fairness, ethics, bias, and antibias work. It was [San Francisco County] Judge Donna Hitchens who worked to make sure the Judicial Council's Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness was addressing sexual orientation. They had the Krieger Sexual Orientation Fairness Subcommittee, but they also had various subcommittees related to women's issues, women of color, and racial equity. I've had the honor of carrying that work forward. We created a bench card for judicial officers dealing with LGBT youth issues under the leadership of [San Francisco County] Commissioner Catherine Lyons. I'm making sure that New Judicial Officer Orientation continues to have segments related to LGBT awareness, diversity, and antibias. I’ve done video trainings on sexual orientation issues and more recently on transgender issues. In [Los Angeles Superior Court], we created two trainings on transgender issues, one of which was offered throughout the county, with 12 different offerings at different court sites. We hit more than 230 judicial officers with in-person training on transgender issues co-taught by a judicial officer at their courthouse and a judicial officer who identifies as LGBT. In the most recent statewide video program that we did on transgender issues, I was talking about ways to make transgender litigants feel comfortable in court, letting a court know how they would like to be addressed. I had been thinking recently about adding my pronouns on my nameplate on my bench, and ended up writing an article about the concept. We now have judges throughout the United States and Canada who have their pronouns on their nameplates as a way to ensure litigants are able to feel comfortable telling a judicial officer how they'd like to be addressed." On coming out as LGBTQ+: "When I was in high school, I participated in a week-long summer camp dealing with antibias, racism, sexism, and homophobia. This was in the very early 1980s and that gave me the ability to really understand diversity and understand the privilege I have as a White man in society, and how to deal with my own coming-out issues. I came out at a pretty young age on the front page of my college newspaper and within a year was associated students president, which taught me that coming out is not always going to end up being a bad thing and letting people know who you are and sharing your authentic self can make positive change. When I was beginning as an attorney, I had to decide whether to put LGBT involvements on my resume. As I often tell law students, 'If they wouldn't hire you because of your LGBT involvements on your resume, would you really want to work for them?'" On role models and mentors going into the legal profession: "When I became a lawyer, there were just a handful of LGBT judicial officers in the state. [Retired Los Angeles County Judge] Steve Lachs was the first openly gay judge in the world. When he was appointed to the bench by Jerry Brown in the late 1970s, the newspaper headline in the Los Angeles Times was something like 'Governor Appoints Avowed Homosexual to the Bench.' I remember as a law student or young lawyer calling Judge Steve Lachs on the phone and halfway through the call, realizing he was sitting on the bench talking to me--he was larger than life. It's always been important for me to reach out to law students, lawyers, and judicial officers. My husband and I for 15 years have hosted the Rand Schrader Law student reception for LGBT law students throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Every year, there are one or two students I talk to who are interested in my area of law (juvenile dependency) or being on the bench, and I invite them to come watch me in court. It is amazing to me the impact it has on a law student to have that type of interaction with the judge. I was meeting with lawyers and advocates from China and they asked me 'What can we do to make a difference in the system?' I said they need to find a judge who's an ally and work with them to make headway. They looked at me and said 'In China, we don't interact with judges. We don't have a way to meet a judge.' So we have such an opportunity in our society to mentor and interact with the next generation and our peers." On working in juvenile justice: "Since I got on the bench in 1998, Los Angeles Superior Court’s juvenile division has always had three to five openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual judicial officers. So many of us want to be there for young people and families who have experienced fear and adversity and have struggled with acceptance. The number of openly LGBT youth in foster care and in the child welfare system is so high. I always tell judges if the parent and child have a conflict and it's not totally clear exactly what's going on, start asking questions to see if it has to do with the parent perceiving the child to be gay or trans. Maybe that's the issue that no one's catching. In juvenile dependency court, we're dealing with families where parents have problems and kids need security, safety, and planning for their future." On the role of judges: "I want to give a shout out to retired [California] Chief Justice Ron George. I was teaching a New Judicial Officer Orientation class the week of the Prop. 8 election. The California Supreme Court had already ruled that in California, same-sex marriages had to be recognized, but the voters ended up knocking that down. I was in chambers with a new group of judges the day after the election and I told Chief Justice George I had recently been in a program where we were listing our heroes and that his name was on the list. Doing the right thing as a judicial officer, especially when there's so much chance of public outcry, really does take courage. A lot of judicial officers in this state and in this country have had so much courage. There was a judge in Sacramento dealing with whether California's domestic partnership law violated a previous initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California and he faced threats of recall if he upheld California's domestic partnership law. He decided that the correct ruling in the case was that California's domestic partnership law was constitutional and valid. When it went to the Court of Appeal, those appeals court justices faced those same threats and they still followed the law. I'm not saying you always rule in favor of an LGBT issue or any issue dealing with diversity, but the courage it takes to follow the law when you're ruling in those types of cases is really something that I think judges don't get enough credit for." https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/celebrating-lgbtq-diversity-california-courts-alameda-county-judge-victoria-kolakowski Celebrating LGBTQ+ Diversity in the California Courts: Alameda County Judge Victoria KolakowskiKaren.Datangel Mon, 06/10/2024 - 11:47 Feature This June, California courts and the Judicial Council of California join the nation in recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. We've spoken with a few of our LGBTQ+ identifying judges and justices about their experiences serving on the bench and how increasing diversity serves the courts and the public. Elected by voters to the Superior Court of Alameda County in 2011, Judge Victoria Kolakowski is the first transgender judge in California and the first transgender person to serve as a trial court judge of general jurisdiction in the United States. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Kolakowski served as an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission. She is a former president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. Following are video highlights and excerpts from a conversation with Judge Kolakowski: *The text of the interview has been edited for length and clarity. On the importance of diversity in California courts: "It’s important for people in the community to see people like themselves, in the positions that are making these life-altering decisions and to recognize there are people like them [in the legal system]. It's also very important—and this is something that I did not understand as much before I became a judge—to be inside the [judicial] branch and help bring different perspectives to conversations. When there's so much that we do as judges in terms of planning, all the work that the Judicial Council does and various committees do, I think it's important that different perspectives be included, and that’s something I didn't actually appreciate as much before I became a judge. Being part of a group of people with diverse viewpoints, backgrounds of legal experiences, and life experiences helps us as a whole, as a branch, to be better, to do better, and to be better judges." On being the first transgender trial court judge in California: "One of the reasons why I ran [for trial court judge] was that it was important for people to see [openly trans] people like me in a position like this. Transgender issues and people weren't as well-known as they are now. It’s important that people in the system see that we are more than just sex workers and victims of violent crimes but we are, as a community, so much more. It’s important for people to see and understand that we can be judges; we can be all sorts of other things. It’s important for people to see that this is an option if it’s something that they could aspire towards, and I've been truly amazed and blessed by the number of people who've told me that they were inspired by me being a judge to enter the legal profession, or to seek public office because they knew that I had achieved this. The most humbling experience I had was a visit to an attorney's office a couple of years ago. The attorney brought me over to a workstation where his paralegal, who is also transgender, had two framed pictures on the wall. One was of Harvey Milk and the other was of me. I was blown away knowing that my being here and what I do touched somebody so much and that is very meaningful to me. I don't think that we appreciate sometimes how much it means to people in the [LGBTQ+] community to see themselves reflected in those places. From that perspective, I feel like it's been a great blessing for me to know that I impacted people that way." On role models and mentors going into the legal profession: "As the first openly transgender trial court judge, I don't have others that I could look back and say this person inspired me. What had inspired me are great attorneys in the past who've managed to break into the legal community and achieve great things. I was fortunate to meet Thurgood Marshall while he was still alive. He was a role model for me and looking at other people who broke through and made a difference has been inspiring to me. I didn't have a particular mentor, but I wish I had and I'm trying to be one for other people." On access to justice: "I have served on the Judicial Council's Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness and also served as a member of the California Access to Justice Commission. I've done a lot of educational work with CJER (Center for Judicial Education and Research) about trying to increase [awareness] and provide educational materials for judges on how to interact with transgender and nonbinary people in the courts. Our branch makes efforts in so many ways to try to increase diversity on the bench and to increase access to the courts. I try to use plain simple language that everybody can understand and I think that's an important part of access as well. I grew up in a poor blue-collar working family who didn't understand the law. I'm the first person in my family who went to college. It's important to remember that people are scared—not everybody in the [court]room understands what’s going on, as they don't know the [legal] language being used. I try to make sure that the prospective jurors, the litigants, and everybody feels at ease—part of that desire comes from my personal awareness and experience being part of a group where this doesn't come to me by blood. I come from a different place and it's important that we have people in our system who understand how it feels like being left out, not understanding what's happening around them. The truth is that the courts need to be for everyone, and that's what we as judges should be." https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/tri-counties-judicial-mentor-program-offers-guidance-attorneys-seeking-judgeships Tri-Counties Judicial Mentor Program Offers Guidance to Attorneys Seeking Judgeshipselaine.chan Wed, 12/13/2023 - 14:28 Feature Judicial Mentor programs identify and encourage a broad range of qualified attorneys to consider careers on the bench, while providing them guidance on how to get there.   Three-Counties Solution to Mentor Central Coast Candidates In September 2021, the Superior Courts of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties launched their Tri-Counties Judicial Mentor program. Judges from those courts volunteer their time to provide information and demystify the judicial application and vetting process. The mentor judges also help potential judicial candidates develop career plans and skills to navigate their pathways to the bench. When a court from an attorney’s home county cannot pair the mentee with a judge who specializes in their practice area, the court will refer the mentee to one of the other two collaborating courts. Mentor judges commit to a minimum of four meetings with their mentees per year via phone, videoconference, or in person. The mentorship ends once the mentee submits an application to the Governor’s Office. Mentorship Program Reaches out to Diverse Candidate PoolTo promote inclusivity and diversity of judicial candidates, the mentorship program reaches out to lawyers from underrepresented communities, specialty bars, diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, LGBT communities, and those with disabilities. “I come from a blue-collar background and none of my close professional colleagues and friends had gone through the process before me,” said newly appointed San Luis Obispo County Judge Crystal Seiler. “The mentor program helped me understand what to expect at every stage of the process. In the midst of a process that can leave applicants feeling very vulnerable, having a mentor program that focuses on access, support, and understanding is really wonderful.” Mentorship Program ExpandingOver the last two years, the three courts have received a combined 29 applications and 22 volunteering judges. All applicants have been successfully matched with a mentor. Number of volunteer judges and mentees in each county from 2021–2023.     San Luis Obispo County Judge Rita Federman   “The mentor program has been an invaluable tool to demystify the process and make it more transparent,” said San Luis Obispo County Judge Rita Federman, chair of the Judicial Mentor Committee, the body that oversees the tri-counties program. “Mentees have uniformly expressed their appreciation that they are able to speak directly to a judge who can offer suggestions and guidance about completing the application and respond to questions about our day-to-day work." Learn more about the Tri-counties Judicial Mentor Program. Statewide Effort to Increase Judicial DiversityAccording to data from the Judicial Council of California, for 17 years in a row, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse. But even with this encouraging trend, approximately 60% of the state’s justices and judges are white men. In addition to making diverse appointments to the bench, California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021 announced the creation of the California Judicial Mentor Program as a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to advance the shared goal of an inclusive judiciary that reflects California’s population. That program includes an appellate court program, as well as a trial court mentor program that launched in Los Angeles County and has expanded across the state. A key tool in developing the mentoring programs, the council’s Judicial Diversity Toolkit encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups, including individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/survey-results-california-bench-continues-grow-more-diverse Survey Results: California Bench Continues to Grow More DiverseCorren, Blaine Wed, 03/01/2023 - 12:55 News Release For the 17th straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to new data released by the Judicial Council. As of December 31, 2022, responding female judicial officers constitute 39.9% of judicial officers across all court levels, a 1 percentage point increase over the prior year and an increase of more than 12 percentage points since 2006—the first year that data were collected for this purpose. The bench also has continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse. The proportion of responding white judicial officers has declined by more than 8 percentage points since 2006. The percentage of responding Asian, Black, and Hispanic judicial officers has doubled over the same time period. Statewide, Multi-Branch Effort to Increase Judicial DiversityThe Judicial Council recently updated its Strategic Plan for California’s Judicial Branch, making explicit the branch’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive court system. The plan supports efforts like the council’s Judicial Diversity Toolkit, which encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups—including individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations—to educate and advise them about pursuing careers in the law. The council also supports the Chief Justice’s Civic Learning Initiative, which promotes civic learning and engagement in our public schools. In addition, the Judicial Mentor Program is a statewide undertaking between the Governor’s office and the courts to develop and recruit qualified and diverse judicial applicants—and the state’s appellate and superior courts have also started their own local mentor programs. Progress on increasing judicial diversity has also continued under our current Governor’s appointments. Of Governor Gavin Newsom’s 288 appointments during his first 4-year term in office, more than half were women and 59% identified themselves as Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. In addition, last year Governor Newsom nominated Justice Patricia Guerrero as California’s new Chief Justice, who became the first Latina to hold that position. He also appointed Justice Kelli Evans, an openly gay justice of color and the newest justice on the California Supreme Court. And earlier in his term, he appointed Justice Martin Jenkins, the first openly gay justice and third African American man ever to serve on the state’s highest court. Survey of California BenchThe Judicial Council surveyed California judges and justices in December 2022 to get a snapshot of the demographics of the California bench—including gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Responding to the questionnaire is voluntary for judges, and the data only reflects the responses provided. Among the findings: GenderData show the percentage of female justices and judges has increased to 39.9%, compared to 27.1% in 2006, continuing a steady upward trend. Race and EthnicityThe data also show changes over the past 17 years in the percentage of responding justices and judges reported in the following race/ethnicity categories: American Indian or Alaska Native (.4% in 2022 compared to 0.1% in 2006); Asian (9.3% in 2022 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Black or African American (8.6% in 2022 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Hispanic or Latino (12.5% in 2022 compared to 6.3% in 2006); Pacific Islander (0.4% in 2022 compared to 0.1% in 2006); White (61.4% in 2022 compared to 70.1% in 2006); Some Other Race (1.1% in 2022 compared to 0.2% in 2006); More Than One Race (4.5% in 2022 and also 4.4% in 2006); and Information Not Provided (1.9% in 2022 compared to 9.9% in 2006). These changes reflect judicial retirements and other departures from the bench, new judicial appointments, and an increase in the number of trial court judges who voluntarily provided race/ethnicity information. Gender Identity/Sexual OrientationThis is the 12th year that the study includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation, as required by a law passed in 2011. More than 80% of respondents provided information about gender identity/sexual orientation, reporting the following: Heterosexual – 75.4% Lesbian - 1.8% Gay - 2.6% Bisexual - 0.2% Transgender - 0.1% Information not provided – 19.8% Veteran and Disability StatusIn addition, this is the 9th year that the study includes data on veteran and disability status. These questions were first asked of justices and judges who were new to the bench during the 2014 calendar year, although judges appointed before this date are free to update this aspect of their demographic profile as well. Of the 831 active trial court judges responding to the question about their status as a veteran, 52 respondents (6%) indicated they have served in the military. Of the 834 active judges responding to the question concerning their disability status, 19 judges (2%) indicated they have a disability. About Judicial Officer Demographic DataGovernment Code section 12011.5(n) requires the Judicial Council to collect and release aggregate demographic data on California state justices and judges by March 1 every year. This is the report’s 17th year. Increasing the diversity of California’s judicial officers to reflect the rich diversity of California’s populace continues to be a key goal of the Judicial Council. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/survey-results-california-bench-growing-more-diverse-1 Survey Results: California Bench Growing More DiverseCorren, Blaine Tue, 03/01/2022 - 13:01 News Release For the 16th straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to new data released by the Judicial Council. As of December 31, 2021, female judicial officers constitute 38.6% of judicial officers across all court levels, a 1% increase over the prior year and an increase of more than 11 percentage points since 2006—the first year that data were collected for this purpose. The bench also has continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse. The proportion of white judicial officers has declined 7% since 2006. The percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic judicial officers has nearly doubled over the same time period, and now 35% of current justices and judges identify as non-white. Statewide, Multi-Branch Effort to Increase Judicial DiversityThe Judicial Council developed a Judicial Diversity Toolkit, which encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups—which include individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations—to educate and advise them about pursuing careers in the law. In addition, Gov. Newsom last July announced the California Judicial Mentor Program as a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to develop and recruit qualified and diverse judicial applicants for the state’s superior and appellate courts. Of Governor Newsom’s 169 appointments during his first three years in office, 49% were women and 58% identified themselves as Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Governor Newsom recently nominated Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court, who if confirmed would become the court’s first Latina justice. Newsom also appointed Justice Martin Jenkins two years ago to the California Supreme Court, the court's first openly gay justice and third African American man ever to serve on the state’s highest court. Survey of California BenchThe Judicial Council surveyed California judges and justices in December 2021 to get a snapshot of the demographics of the California bench—including gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Responding to the questionnaire is voluntary for judges, and the data only reflects the responses provided.   GenderData show the percentage of female justices and judges has increased to 38.6%, compared to 27.1% in 2006, continuing a steady upward trend. Race and EthnicityThe data also show changes over the past 16 years in the percentage of justices and judges reported in the following race/ethnicity categories:  American Indian or Alaska Native (.5% in 2021 compared to 0.1% in 2006); Asian (8.7% in 2021 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Black or African American (8.4% in 2021 compared to 4.4% in 2006); Hispanic or Latino (11.7% in 2021 compared to 6.3% in 2006); Pacific Islander (0.3% in 2021 compared to 0.1% in 2006); White (63.1% in 2021 compared to 70.1% in 2006); Some Other Race (1.0% in 2021 compared to 0.2% in 2006); More Than One Race (4.4% in 2021 and also 4.4% in 2006); and  Information Not Provided (1.9% in 2021 compared to 9.9% in 2006). These changes reflect judicial retirements and other departures from the bench, new judicial appointments, and an increase in the number of trial court judges who voluntarily provided race/ethnicity information. Gender Identity/Sexual OrientationThis is the 11th year that the study includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation, as required by a law passed in 2011. Of the respondents who provided information about gender identity/sexual orientation, the following identified as: Heterosexual - 73.9% Lesbian - 1.8% Gay - 2.3% Bisexual - 0.2% Transgender - 0.1% Information not provided - 21.7% Veteran and Disability StatusIn addition, this is the 8th year that the study includes data on veteran and disability status. These questions were first asked of justices and judges who were new to the bench during the 2014 calendar year, although judges appointed before this date are free to update this aspect of their demographic profile as well. Of the 707 active trial court judges responding to the question about their status as a veteran, 50 respondents (7%) indicated they have served in the military. Of the 744 active judges responding to the question concerning their disability status, 17 judges (2%) indicated they have a disability. About Judicial Officer Demographic DataGovernment Code section 12011.5(n) requires the Judicial Council to collect and release aggregate demographic data on California state justices and judges by March 1 every year. This is the report’s 16th year. Increasing the diversity of California’s judicial officers to reflect the rich diversity of California’s populace continues to be a key goal of the Judicial Council. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/2021-year-review-judicial-council-california 2021 Year in Review: Judicial Council of CaliforniaCorren, Blaine Mon, 12/20/2021 - 10:31 Feature In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to challenge the state’s ability to ensure access to justice for the citizens of California. But like the previous year, California’s Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and the Judicial Council supported the courts as they remained flexible and innovative to ensure the justice system was open and vital services remained accessible to the public. Remote Proceedings Increased Access During Pandemic A report from the Chief Justice’s pandemic workgroup found strong support for offering remote access on a permanent basis for most court proceedings, rather than defaulting to pre-pandemic levels of in-person operations. The report found remote proceedings often improved the court experience for testifying victims, expert witnesses, and family law litigants, as well as increased efficiency for arraignments, pretrial conferences, and progress report hearings. The report further showed remote hearings increased efficiency: In areas where courts relied almost exclusively on remote video hearings—most notably juvenile delinquency and dependency cases—clearance rates climbed as high as 130%, enabling courts to handle not just current juvenile cases but also clear previous backlogs    Remote hearings helped boost the resolution of child support cases by 10%   In criminal and other case types, where remote hearings were used far less often, clearance rates decreased by about 20% Resource Guide on Remote Proceedings The council’s workgroup on post-pandemic initiatives introduced a new resource guide for judicial officers conducting proceedings by videoconference. The guide highlights practical issues to consider, such as technical equipment, file/screen sharing, language interpretation, online security, handling disruptive behavior, and public access to the proceedings. (View presentation) Addressing Criminal Case Backlog Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye launched a program to fast track the resolution of criminal cases to help ease significant backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Retired judges from the Chief Justice’s Temporary Assigned Judges Program can help courts by conducting readiness conferences or cover matters for their local judges assigned to these conferences. Image More than 25,000 requests for fine and fee reduction were processed through the new MyCitations tool from April 2019-June 2021. Additional counties will offer the MyCitations tool in 2022. Court Innovations Improved Services for Public The council’s Court Innovations Grants Program continued to fund 51 projects across 30 courts statewide, which helped the judicial branch expand remote services and address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on court users. Those programs led to a new statewide self-help litigant portal, creating answers to common questions for online chat bots on court websites, and expanding the use of electronic court records and e-filing. In addition, investments in technology helped the Judicial Council develop the online MyCitations tool for infraction cases, currently available in seven superior courts around the state. The tool allows litigants with financial hardship to submit online a fine and fee reduction request. From April 2019–June 2021, more than 25,000 requests were submitted, from about 16,000 litigants. More than 80% of the requests were approved, resulting in more than $9.5 million in reduced fines and fees. Providing Language Assistance and Resources Californians speak more than 200 languages, about 44% of households speak a language other than English, and nearly 7 million people report speaking English “less than very well.” The council cohosted a series of free public webinars to help connect limited English speakers with court language services and multilingual materials (view on YouTube). Court leadership and staff, local/county/ethnic bar associations, legal services organizations, law libraries, and other language access stakeholders learned how they can provide these materials directly to their communities through websites, social media channels, and hard-copy distribution at resource centers. The council also ran print and public service announcements on how to access court interpreter services in 15 multi-ethnic print publications and 16 multilingual radio stations throughout the state.  Courts Expanding Pretrial Services The judicial branch budget expanded funding for pretrial pilot programs that started in 16 courts to increase the safe and efficient release of people arrested before trial. The funding also helped additional courts develop their own pretrial programs. The programs promote the least restrictive release conditions while still addressing public safety and ensuring court appearances, use appropriate monitoring practices, and provide services for those released. New Courthouse Construction The new Sonora courthouse in Tuolumne County opened in August. The state budget also included $2.1 billion over five years to fund construction of critically needed new courthouses, including 14 replacement and renovation projects on a priority list approved by the council. Since assuming responsibility for court construction in 2002, the council has completed 31 new courthouse projects. This year, the judicial branch opened new courthouses in Sonora and Yreka; broke ground in Indio, Menifee, Modesto, and Sonoma; and expects to open new courthouses next year in El Centro, Redding, and Willows.   Workgroup on Homelessness Offers Recommendations In its final report to the council, the Chief Justice’s Work Group on Homelessness recommended ways the judicial branch could increase access and assistance for court users experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, such as: Improving the process for litigants involved in eviction cases by increasing remote access, expanding self-help resources, and creating more user-friendly court forms with information sheets and checklists   Providing attorneys in residential eviction cases for litigants who can’t afford them and starting and/or expanding court settlement efforts in those cases   Expanding the number of special homeless court programs, which can reduce barriers to housing stability by clearing defendants’ fines, fees, warrants, and outstanding cases after treatment and rehabilitation (18 California counties have some form of homeless court program) Preventing Bias in Court Interactions The council approved recommendations from the Chief Justice’s Work Group to Enhance Administrative Standards Addressing Bias in Court Proceedings. In addition to encouraging bias reporting and education, the updated standards broaden the list of classifications protected, and define the optimal makeup and roles of local or regional committees working to prevent bias in court interactions by court staff or judicial officers. “I see this effort as another tangible example of how the Chief Justice has tasked this council to not only improve access to justice, but to be transparent, accountable and more inclusive of the myriad of court users that enter courthouse doors up and down the state,” said Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie, co-chair of the work group. Statewide Effort to Increase Judicial Diversity For 15 years in a row, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to Judicial Council data. But even with this encouraging trend, nearly two-thirds of the state’s justices and judges are men and 65% are white. Gov. Gavin Newsom in July announced the California Judicial Mentor Program as a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to advance the shared goal of an inclusive judiciary that reflects California’s diversity. That program includes an appellate court program in the First Appellate District, as well as a trial court mentor program that launched in Los Angeles in October and has expanded to much of the state. A key tool in developing the mentoring programs, the council’s Judicial Diversity Toolkit encourages courts to reach out to underrepresented groups, including individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, and sexual orientations. Judges in the ClassroomAs part of the Chief Justice’s Civic Learning Initiative, the Judges in the Classroom program continues to match judges with schools for in-person or remote visits with students. The visits help students understand the third branch of government and the rule of law, develop critical thinking and communication skills, and build trust and confidence in the courts that hopefully results in future willingness to participate in government as jurors, voters, and community leaders.  Cross-County Judges in the Classroom Virtual Visits: Commissioner Rebeca Esquivel-Pedroza visits a classroom in San Diego from her chambers in Santa Clara County to talk about civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.  During the 2020-2021 academic year, 180 bench officers signed up for Judges in the Classroom, connecting with 181 (virtual) classrooms in 11 counties. In the first five months of the current school year, schools have submitted nearly 200 requests.  Stay connected in 2022 by subscribing to the California Courts Newsroom and Twitter feed. (See bottom of this page for links)