https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/event/judicial-council-meeting-31 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting natalie.l.ston… Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:43 Thursday December 10, 2026 @ 12:00 am to Friday December 11, 2026 @ 11:59 pm San Francisco Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco , CA 94102 United States Download Event https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/event/judicial-council-meeting-30 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting natalie.l.ston… Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:40 Thursday October 15, 2026 @ 12:00 am to Friday October 16, 2026 @ 11:59 pm San Francisco Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco , CA 94102 United States Download Event https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/event/judicial-council-meeting-29 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting natalie.l.ston… Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:36 Thursday July 16, 2026 @ 12:00 am to Friday July 17, 2026 @ 11:59 pm San Francisco Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco , CA 94102 United States Download Event https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/event/judicial-council-meeting-28 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting natalie.l.ston… Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:34 Thursday April 23, 2026 @ 12:00 am to Friday April 24, 2026 @ 11:59 pm San Francisco Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco , CA 94102 United States Download Event https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/event/judicial-council-meeting-27 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting natalie.l.ston… Fri, 01/30/2026 - 11:22 Friday February 20, 2026 @ 10:00 am to Friday February 20, 2026 @ 12:00 pm San Francisco Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Ave San Francisco, CA 94102 United States This meeting will be held in-person at San Francisco. Download Event Extended Details The live webcast will begin here at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. View the Agenda | News Release SAN FRANCISCO—Judicial Council members at their February 20 business meeting will receive a report showing that litigants and court staff who took part in remote appearances in civil and criminal proceedings had an overwhelmingly positive experience. The council collects data regarding overall user experience from California trial courts that use the Zoom remote technology platform. Between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, the council collected 44,526 user responses—44% from court users and 56% from court workers. Respondents reported their experiences using the remote technology: Approximately 90% of court users and 98% of court staff reported a positive experience   Only 1.7% of total respondents reported experiencing an audio technical issue   Just 0.9% of total respondents reported experiencing a visual technical issue Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Presentation From the Department of Finance: The council will get an update on the state's fiscal situation from the California Department of Finance. Council members will also have an opportunity to ask questions about how the overall state budget may affect the judicial branch. Funding for Court Technology Projects The council will consider approving a midyear reallocation of IT modernization funding to help courts with their technology projects. The reallocation would include funding for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County to continue hosting a shared solution that sends automated text message notifications—such as hearing reminders—to court users in nine participating courts. Education for Judges and Court Staff: The council will consider its next two-year education plan for developing and delivering education to justices, judges, and court staff to help them maintain high standards of professionalism, ethics, and performance for the benefit of the public. The plan includes on-demand videos, online courses, webinars, podcasts, and publications, as well as live interactive programs and courses, offered both in person and remotely. Judicial Council of California 100th Anniversary Video: The council will see a preview of a new video produced to highlight the council’s creation 100 years ago and how its role in improving the statewide administration of justice has helped transform the court user-experience in California. 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/event/judicial-council-meeting-26 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting Martin.Novitski Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:46 Friday December 12, 2025 @ 10:00 am to Friday December 12, 2025 @ 1:00 pm Judicial Council Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 United States The meeting was held in-person at San Francisco. Download Event Extended Details The webcast recording can be viewed here. ; View the full news release here. 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 Rooms The 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/event/judicial-council-meeting-25 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting Martin.Novitski Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:45 Friday October 24, 2025 @ 10:10 am to Friday October 24, 2025 @ 1:00 pm Judicial Council of California 2860 Gateway Oaks Drive, #400 Sacramento, CA 95833 United States This meeting will be held remotely. Download Event Extended Details The live webcast will begin here at 10:10 a.m. on Friday, October 24 See the full news release here. VIDEOCONFERENCE—The Judicial Council at its October 24 business meeting will receive a report about efforts made by courts, the council, and partners in child welfare to improve permanency for children in the foster care system. In addition to proclaiming November is Court Adoption and Permanency Month, the council will highlight the importance of permanency and its efforts to improve the court adoption process, which include: Providing education and technical assistance   Support and oversight of the 11,000 active Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers providing services to 13,000 children and youth statewide   Expansion of resources for court-appointed counsel for children in foster care and their parents The council will also hear from two former foster youth who, informed by their own experiences in care, made the decision to provide permanency to a family member’s child. Council members will hear about their journey through the adoptive process and the importance of having a forever family. For this 26-year anniversary of Court Adoption and Permanency Month, the council is highlighting the importance of kinship care and developing a “kin-first culture.” This is the term used to describe a system that prioritizes placing children with their extended family network. Research demonstrates that children in kinship care experience fewer behavioral health problems and less placement disruption and require fewer mental health services than youth in a nonrelative placement. Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Funding for CARE Act Legal Representation: The council will consider approving CARE Act funding for the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar of California so it can distribute it to qualified legal services projects and public defender offices to provide legal counsel for representation in CARE Act proceedings, as well as training and technical assistance to these legal providers. Increased Funding for Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Program: The council will consider allocating additional funding to current Shriver projects to expand and sustain legal representation and court services for low-income litigants involved in housing and other civil cases. New and Revised Criminal Jury Instructions: The council will consider for publication new and revised criminal jury instructions to keep the instructions current with statutory and case authority. New and Revised Court Rules and Forms: The council will consider a number of proposed new and revised court rules and forms in the areas of civil, criminal, juvenile, family law, conservatorships, unlawful detainer, protective orders, appellate procedures, and access and fairness. The revisions will help ensure the rules and forms conform to recent changes in the law and increase the efficiency of the court process. 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/event/judicial-council-meeting-24 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting Martin.Novitski Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:45 Friday July 18, 2025 @ 10:05 am to Friday July 18, 2025 @ 1:00 pm Judicial Council Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 United States This meeting will be held in person at San Francisco. Download Event Extended Details The live webcast will begin here at 10:05 a.m. on Friday, July 18. View the full news release here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its July 18 business meeting will consider allocating funding to the courts provided in the fiscal year 2025–26 state budget, which includes money for court interpreters, continued implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, and other costs associated with trial court operations. The council will also consider updating its policy by which funding is allocated to the trial courts so it better accounts for potential changes to the judicial branch budget such as future budget reductions and restorations. In addition, the council will consider submitting 15 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, and new courthouse construction and maintenance. Funding to Continue Upgrading Court Technology At its July business meeting, the council will also consider a proposal to allocate grant funding to specifically help courts expand their use of technology. Funding priorities would include projects related to cyber/information security, remote proceedings, data analytics, AI, and modernizing court technology infrastructure. During the business meeting, the council will also hear about success stories from courts that have received previous grant funding for technology projects. Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Updated Plan for Court Construction: The council will consider 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. New Guidance for Courts That Use Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools: The council will consider proposals that address local court policies on the use of generative artificial intelligence for court-related work by judicial officers or court staff. Grants to Improve Jury Service: The council will consider a proposal to allocate grant funding 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 will consider a proposal to allocate grant funding to expand language access for court users. Funding categories include multilingual wayfinding strategies, interpreter equipment, multilingual kiosks, and audiovisual systems upgrades.   Court Interpreter Use Study: The council will consider 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. 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/event/judicial-council-meeting-23 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting Martin.Novitski Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:43 Friday April 25, 2025 @ 9:45 am to Friday April 25, 2025 @ 1:00 pm Judicial Council of California 455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 United States This meeting was held in-person at San Francisco. Download Event Extended Details View the News Release | Webcast Recording SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its April 25 business meeting approved an update to its model for measuring court workload and assessing trial court staffing needs based on findings from a 2024 time study conducted in 19 courts across the state. The updated Resource Assessment Study (RAS) model factors in the number and types of cases filed to estimate the time and amount of staff courts require to process cases. For instance, felony and family law matters require the largest share of court resources relative to other case types, whereas traffic infractions are often resolved as administrative matters, resulting in fewer court appearances and less court workload. The model highlights that the number of case filings alone does not equal court workload. “For example, criminal felony matters have increased complexity for our trial courts and staff related to post-judgement sentencing and the Racial Justice Act,” said Joyce Hinrichs, chair of the council’s Data Analytics Advisory Committee. “Adjusting racial disparities pursuant to the act is important, but we have to recognize it increases the workload of staff in a number of ways that can include court and evidentiary hearings.” This year’s RAS model incorporates 22 different case types and includes two new ones related to mental health certification and the CARE Act. This nationally known and accepted methodology has been employed in more than 30 states to measure the work activities of court staff, judicial officers, and other entities connected with the court system. Watch Improvements to Jury Instructions and Jury Service The council also heard a presentation on how the court system has improved jury service, including information about the state’s civil and criminal plain-language jury instructions. The presentation explained how the council created jury instructions that are more easily understood but still legally accurate. “If we’re going to be asking members of the community to come in and serve, we owe it to them to make sure that the process is accessible and understandable,” said Justice Adrienne M. Grover, chair of the council’s Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions. “That starts with the juror summons and goes all the way through to the jury instructions and verdict forms. These efforts benefit jurors, but they also benefit litigants by ensuring a fair and just application of the law to their case.” Presenters also noted additional improvements to the jury system, which include a model juror summons, online jury portals, staggered reporting times, a pilot program to increase juror pay and travel reimbursements, electronic payment options, and an updated juror orientation video that explains how the jury system works. An additional orientation video shown to prospective jurors explains how implicit bias can affect the process and reminds them about biases that can influence their assessment of the evidence or their decisions. The judge also reminds jurors about implicit bias at the beginning and end of the trial. Watch Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Addressing Racial Inequities: The council approved recommended steps to support collaborative court and diversion programs, which combine judicial supervision with rehabilitation services focused on recovery to reduce recidivism and improve offender outcomes. Strategies include improved data collection on the race and ethnicity of participants, an assessment tool to help identify and correct areas where racial disparities may exist, and sharing information and best practices among courts and justice system partners. Watch Plan for Court Technology: The council approved an update to its Tactical Plan for Technology, which provides a roadmap for increasing access to justice and services to court customers. This includes concrete actions to enhance operational efficiencies, strengthen disaster recovery capabilities, and meet minimum technology standards for remote proceedings. The plan also recommends the careful and responsible exploration of emerging technologies in alignment with branch standards and policies. Watch New Court Rules and Forms: The council approved 20 new rules of court, 28 court forms, and one standard of judicial administration. For example, the council approved a new rule of court for developing branchwide guidelines on technology and data security, as well as a new rule related to notice requirements in probate and conservatorship cases. Nearly 50 comments were considered on these proposed new rules and forms during the public comment process. Legal Services Trust Fund Commission: The council received information about the work of the commission, which administers grant programs to fund local and statewide civil legal aid organizations that serve low-income and underserved populations. The grants provide funding to assist more than 32,000 litigants and hold 1,800 workshops per year. Watch Appointment to the California Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision: The Judicial Council reappointed San Bernardino County Judge R. Glenn Yabuno to the California Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision, which governs state administration of the transfer across state lines of the supervision of adult parolees and probationers. Preview of Public Service Recognition Week Videos: The council received a preview of videos that will be promoted online May 4-10 during Public Service Recognition Week. The videos will highlight occupations and personal stories from employees in public service within the state judicial branch. At the conclusion of the video preview, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero thanked “all of you throughout our entire court family for your integrity, dedication, and work you do on behalf of the public.” 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/event/judicial-council-meeting-22 Judicial Council Meeting Judicial Council Meeting Martin.Novitski Thu, 04/18/2024 - 09:40 Friday February 21, 2025 @ 10:20 am to Friday February 21, 2025 @ 1:00 pm Judicial Council Boardroom 455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 United States This meeting will take place in-person at San Francisco. Download Event Extended Details The live webcast will begin here at 10:20 a.m. on Friday. View the Agenda | News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its February 21 business meeting will hear about a new model policy to ensure the responsible and safe use of generative AI in court administration. Developed by the AI Task Force, the model policy can be adopted or modified by courts that permit the use of generative AI, as needed. The task force will also detail its ongoing work, including plans to develop further guidance for courts adopting generative AI policies, as well as for judges using generative AI in their adjudicative role. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero last year announced the launch of the task force to evaluate generative AI for its potential benefits to courts and court users while mitigating risks to safeguard the public. “Generative AI brings great promise, but our guiding principle should be safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process,” said Chief Justice Guerrero back at that May council meeting. “That means it will be essential for the branch to assess what protections are necessary as we begin to use this technology.” Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Caseflow Management: The council will hear a presentation from the chairs of its Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Court Executives Advisory Committee that will focus on the importance of effective caseflow management to improve access to justice and efficiency in the courts. Certification Programs for American Sign Language (ASL) Court Interpreters: The council will consider 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. Addressing Costs to Provide Court Interpreters: The council will consider augmenting its funding for court interpreters to address shortfalls due to increasing costs and expenses. The allocations would help maintain current levels of interpreter services for court users. Funding for Courthouse Lactation Rooms: The council will review a report to the Legislature that details how the judicial branch has added 32 new lactation rooms 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 rooms in superior court facilities statewide. Partial Restoration of Trial Court Operations Funding: The council will consider how to allocate 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 begin restoring services that were decreased in response to the $97 million reduction. 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.