https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en 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/chief-justice-speaks-emergency-orders-remote-services-diversifying-california-judiciary Chief Justice Speaks on Emergency Orders, Remote Services, Diversifying California JudiciarySoltysik, Penne Fri, 10/22/2021 - 10:38 Feature On October 21, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) hosted a virtual Conversation with Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. The one-hour event was streamed live on the PPIC website and on social media.  The chief justice responded to questions from PPIC Director Mark Baldassare on a number of judicial branch subjects, including case backlogs, diversity on the bench, pandemic operations, and delivering court services remotely. Many of the chief justice's remarks supported the judicial branch's deployment of remote services to court users during the pandemic. While in-person appearances remain the "gold standard," the Chief Justice said remote hearings increased access to justice during the pandemic, particularly in family law and juvenile cases. (View report)  A new law allows California's courts to conduct proceedings in civil cases with remote technology until 2023. We found a new equity and fairness in access to justice through a remote process and we’ll never give that up. --Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye   Jump marks to topics: Role of the Chief Justice 4:45 Statewide look at Local Courts 18:09 Backlog during the pandemic 27:19 Bench diversity 35:24 Criminal justice reform 42:26 Q&A 45:42