https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/return-beyond-bench-conference-encourages-collaboration-support-children-families-and Return of Beyond the Bench Conference Encourages Collaboration to Support Children, Families, and Communities in California Karen.Datangel Tue, 12/09/2025 - 15:59 Feature About 1,000 judicial officers, court staff, attorneys, county agency representatives, tribal court leaders, and other professionals eager to learn and connect on issues related to juvenile law convened at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles Nov. 17-19 for the in-person return of Beyond the Bench. Hosted by the Judicial Council’s Center for Families, Children, and the Courts (CFCC), this year’s signature multidisciplinary conference devoted to children, youth, and families in the California court system was the first in-person event of its kind since 2019.  “After six transformative years, Beyond the Bench 2025 is more than a reunion—it’s a recommitment,” said Sarah Davis, director of the council's CFCC . “This conference has always been about connection—across disciplines, systems, and lived experiences. It’s in that spirit of collaboration that we move forward, united in our mission to build a more just and supportive future for every child and family.” This Year's Conference Focused on Collaboration, Sharing Information The theme of this year’s conference was Coming Together Again to Support Children, Families, and Communities, based on the need to improve collaboration within the broader child welfare system affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, staff turnover, and other factors. This year’s workshops highlighted the court partnerships, voices of lived experience, and topics impacting children and families involved in juvenile dependency and delinquency cases, including cross-over legal issues such as mental health and trauma-informed practice.  A preconference day held at the beginning of the week featured workshops on the new tier rate structure for foster youth (going into effect in 2027), the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), best practices for juvenile dependency attorneys, specific issues relating to juvenile court judges, and stories from incarcerated youth and restorative justice practices. The preconference event also included an all-day convening of court professionals, judicial officers, and state and local stakeholders involved in the Community, Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act.  Plenary Sessions Highlight Insights From Neuroscience, Lived Experience The opening plenary featured welcome remarks from the Judicial Council’s Administrative Director Shelley Curran, California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Secretary Kim Johnson, and Los Angeles Superior Court Executive Officer David Slayton. In her remarks, Curran emphasized the importance of the council and courts’ collaborations with state and county partners along with the judicial branch’s partnership with the legislative and executive branches of government.  Judicial Council Administrative Director Shelley Curran delivers remarks at Beyond the Bench 2025's opening plenary.   “The council has focused on giving our state agency partners voices in this conference to help us understand the needs of families and how we collaborate on improving safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes in juvenile proceedings,” said Curran.  Featured speaker Dr. Adriana Galván, dean of undergraduate education and professor of psychology at UCLA, shared neuroscience-based insights on the adolescent brain and its implications for juvenile courts.  The second day’s morning plenary featured a conversation with expert, author, and foster dad Peter Mutabazi and Orange County Presiding Judge Maria Hernandez. Presiding Judge Hernandez asked Mutabazi about being a foster dad, best practices for transitioning foster children back into their homes, and maintaining good relationships with biological parents. He emphasized it takes a village to raise a child, citing that legal professionals and social workers have a part in foster situations.  The closing plenary opened with recorded remarks by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. Chief Justice Guerrero thanked all participants and encouraged them to remain “committed to collaboration and to our shared goal of building justice and social systems that are rooted in dignity, and support for all children, youth, families, and individuals in our state.” The Chief Justice’s remarks segued into the featured speaker Ali Hall’s presentation about cultivating hope. Hall, an attorney and expert in motivational interviewing, shared heartfelt videos and encouraged small group discussions and solo reflections for attendees to think and talk about how they can care for themselves as they care for others.  Prioritizing Kin-First Culture in California  Kin-first care is a system that prioritizes placing children with their extended family network in permanency and adoption matters. The council and the courts prioritize kin-first culture in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).     Attendees learned more about kin-first culture in a popular panel session featuring perspectives from four counties. Judge Roger Chan, presiding judge of the juvenile court in the San Francisco Superior Court, led the "Promoting a Kin-First Culture" session, which featured insights from Bob Friend, director of the National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC); Erin Thuston, permanency policy bureau chief of CDSS; and judicial officers and county agency representatives from Kern, Sacramento, San Diego, and Santa Cruz. Each county shared their unique demographics, challenges, and partnerships in their respective child welfare systems.  “Thriving kin-first culture looks like a child and family team,” said Friend. “They can decide who needs to be [at the hearings], who has influence, who has the shared agreement. Do they feel like they matter and can they participate?”  Focus on CARE Act  The CARE Act is a pathway to deliver mental health treatment and support services to the most vulnerable Californians. The law establishes a new, non-criminal process that authorizes certain people—such as family members or first responders—to petition a civil court for treatment and services for those with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, which as of Jan 1, 2026, will include bipolar I disorder with psychotic features.   The preconference CARE Act convening brought together courts and agencies to reflect on the one-year mark since full implementation. Representatives from each county—including the courts in those counties—sat together at their own tables. They discussed highlights and areas for improvement and collaboration, and shared out with the wider group. Sessions included remarks from the council’s Chief Operating Officer Salena Chow as well as state medical and psychiatric experts. The sessions also featured best practices on intra-court referrals and clarifying roles within the CARE Act process. In a breakout session during the main conference, judicial officers from El Dorado, Calaveras, and Alameda Counties talked about the intersection of the CARE Act with juvenile law. All the panelists spoke about how the CARE Act process has been positively received in their counties. Alameda County in particular has received a strong response amongst younger participants.  The judicial officers from El Dorado and Alameda also joined judicial officers from Los Angeles and Glenn Counties at a CARE Act working group meeting hosted by California Health and Human Services (CalHHS), where they shared their processes, challenges, and success stories.  About the Judicial Council’s Center for Families, Children, and the Courts  The council's Center for Families, Children, and the Courts (CFCC) is dedicated to improving the quality of justice and services to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, and families. To that end, CFCC develops and provides education for multidisciplinary audiences, including judges, court staff, attorneys, social workers, probation officers and self-represented litigants. View additional photos from Beyond the Bench 2025 below. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judge-ana-espana-named-2025-wilmont-sweeney-juvenile-court-judge-year Judge Ana España Named 2025 Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile Court Judge of the YearKaren.Datangel Wed, 05/21/2025 - 12:48 News Release San Diego County Judge Ana España received the Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile Court Judge of the Year award for 2025 from the Juvenile Court Judges of California (JCJC), a section of the California Judges Association. The JCJC presented the award at its annual meeting on May 15.  The Wilmont Sweeney award, named for the late judge from the Alameda Superior Court, honors judicial officers who exemplify leadership and innovative dedication to California’s youth. Judge España has presided over the juvenile court in San Diego County since 2018. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to the bench in 2008. Prior to her appointment, Judge España served as a deputy public defender with the Primary Public Defender of San Diego County and created a specialized unit to represent children in the dependency system. Judge España champions a “Kin-First” culture in San Diego’s child welfare system to prioritize the placement of children with relatives and extended family. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero highlighted this effort throughout the state in her 2025 State of the Judiciary Address, citing a 10% increase in safe family placements in San Diego County. “Placement with kin, whenever possible, helps ease the pain of removal from a parent and is so important to a child's well-being," said Judge España. "I am thankful to my colleagues and our justice partners who have worked so hard to increase our kin placements and hope to do even better as we continue our work together.” Judge España also holds town halls and works collaboratively with local agencies and Native American tribes in the county. “By integrating culturally appropriate services, I believe there is more youth/family buy-in and it's more meaningful and relevant to the youth and family. And frankly, it’s just a matter of respect as well,” Judge España said of partnering with tribes in a 2024 interview. Judge España developed the Youth Justice Collaborative in San Diego County to provide a forum for justice partners to address issues in the juvenile court system and leads the San Diego County Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board, whose mission is to encourage cross-sector collaboration and support the needs of children, youth, and families in the child welfare system. “Throughout her career, Judge España has embodied the values of compassion, integrity, and visionary leadership,” said Presiding Judge Maureen Hallahan of the San Diego Superior Court. “Her influence reaches beyond San Diego, making her a respected figure throughout California. She continues to shape juvenile law and policy, always putting the well-being of youth at the forefront.” In addition to her current role on the bench, Judge España serves as chair of the JCJC. She also serves as a member of the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and the Juvenile Law Curriculum Committee for the Center for Judicial Education and Research. See past recipients of the Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile Court Judge of the Year Award. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/new-california-laws-going-effect-2025 New California Laws Going Into Effect in 2025Karen.Datangel Tue, 12/31/2024 - 17:08 Feature Cracking Down on Retail Theft Organized retail theft is permanently codified into California law through AB 1802 and SB 982. It is now considered a felony to possess over $950 of items obtained through retail theft with the intention to resell (AB 2943). Similarly, breaking into vehicles to steal property valued at $950 or more with the intention to resell is now also considered a felony (SB 905). Juvenile Dependency and Child Welfare Effective immediately, child custody proceedings involving Indian children must follow the California Indian Child Welfare Act. This means conducting inquiry on the child’s possible Native American heritage and tribal membership eligibility at the first court appearance. Parties and persons present at the proceedings must also inform the court if they receive information about the child’s possible Native American heritage. (AB 81) Collaborative Courts A few changes will affect collaborative justice courts, which combine judicial supervision with rehabilitative services. If a defendant is charged with a drug offense, courts are required to order an available drug treatment or education program. (AB 2106) A probation officer can refer offenses to youth court (with consent from the youth and family) as opposed to filing a petition to declare the youth as a dependent or ward of the court under SB 1005. Under SB 1323, courts are now allowed to make competency determinations based on written evaluations by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. Additionally, courts may refer incompetent defendants charged with felonies to mental health diversion programs. Furthermore, under SB 1400, if a defendant is incompetent to stand trial in a misdemeanor case, the court must consider referral to diversion or other options and subsequent dismissal at certain timeframes. Under SB 910, treatment courts in California will need to operate in accordance with state and national guidelines, and the Judicial Council will be required to revise drug court standards of administration by Jan. 1, 2026. Felony offenses will be added to pretrial diversion programs in veterans court under SB 1025. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic across all industries and especially in California. The state will implement the CA Transparency Act, which requires AI businesses to identify AI-generated content (SB 942). This law will be set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Courts and Access to Justice The CARE Act has been implemented in all California counties as of Dec. 1 of this year. Starting July 1, 2025, California courts will be required to provide ongoing notice of CARE Act proceedings to original petitioners (SB 42). In continuing the council’s commitment to access to justice, AB 170 will extend remote proceedings in juvenile and civil cases. Courtrooms utilizing remote technology will need to meet minimum standards set by the Judicial Council, as well as provide regular reporting to the courts and the council. Other Laws of Note  Starting January 1, 2025, tenants will have 10 days to respond to an unlawful detainer summons and complaint, doubling the previous 5-day deadline that has been in effect since 1971 (AB 2347). Under AB 1186, minors can no longer be charged with restitution fines and any outstanding balances of these fines will be uncollectible and unenforceable 10 years after they were imposed. Read the full 2024 Summary of Court-Related Legislation https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/how-county-superior-court-partnered-tribal-court-create-first-joint-jurisdiction-court How a County Superior Court Partnered With a Tribal Court to Create First Joint-Jurisdiction Court in CaliforniaKaren.Datangel Wed, 12/04/2024 - 14:20 Feature A joint-jurisdiction court in El Dorado County continues to break the school-to-prison cycle for Native American youth. Using restorative justice practices to provide children and parents with achievable goals, the court helps to improve youths’ self-confidence, results in positive life choices, and gives children and families a true connection to tribal history and culture. Creation of Joint-Jurisdictional CourtThe joint-jurisdictional Family Wellness Court in El Dorado County was established in 2015 by former Presiding Judge Suzanne Kingsbury (Ret.) of the Superior Court of El Dorado County and former Chief Judge Christine Williams of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Court. Currently presided over by Judge Gary Slossberg and Chief Judge Victorio Shaw, the judges hear a wide range of cases, including juvenile, child welfare, domestic violence, and criminal. How the Joint-Jurisdictional Court WorksThe Family Wellness Court allows for justice system-involved tribal youth and their families to take part in culturally responsive and court-supervised alternative practices than usually seen in a more traditional court. These alternative practices are also known as collaborative justice or problem-solving courts, which combine judicial supervision with rehabilitation services that are rigorously monitored and focused on recovery to reduce recidivism and improve offender outcomes. By sharing information and resources and coordinating their actions on these alternative approaches, the state and tribal courts can better address the legal issues faced by tribal youth. This joint-jurisdictional model in El Dorado County was the first of its kind in California and was inspired by the Cass County and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Wellness Court in Minnesota, which was established as the first joint-jurisdiction court in the nation in 2006. Former California Chief Justice Ronald George then established California’s Tribal Court-State Court Forum in 2010, modeled after other federal/state/tribal forums around the nation. The Judicial Council then created a Tribal/State Programs unit to support the work of the forum, including expanding the use of the Wellness Court model. With the help of Jennifer Walter, who served as lead counsel to the Tribal Court-State Court Forum from 2010 to 2017, Judge Kingsbury and Judge Williams received a planning grant in 2015 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to form its own Family Wellness Court in El Dorado County. Judge Kingsbury, Judge Williams (now the Chief Judge of the Wilton Rancheria Tribal Court), and Ms. Walter (now in private practice) reflected on why they started their wellness court, the benefits it brings to their communities, and the impacts of the Family Wellness Court movement in California and nationwide. What are the benefits of a joint-jurisdiction court?Jenny Walter: The need is that you have two different jurisdictions addressing the same problem with the same family and because there’s generally a directive of resources on the tribal and county sides, it just makes sense to maximize and leverage the services. The other piece that’s really critical is when the state hears a case from tribal members, they will benefit so much from having a tribal court judge and tribal service providers in order to meet the needs of those families. If you can bring them together, you’ll change the outcomes.  The tribal judges know these families. They’re not going to get snowed by what a state court judge might get snowed by. They’re going to be able to hold folks accountable in a very different way than a state court judge can.  And then there’s these beautiful relationships that get formed with the judges and service providers when they can solve a problem they both share by coming together. What were some of the issues tribal youth were facing in schools?Judge Suzanne Kingsbury (Ret.): When kids got to the more traditional schools in the county, they very much felt like they were fish out of water. Older kids had tribal tattoos and were identified by school resource officers as being gang members or otherwise involved in criminal activity, but the tribal tattoos had significance in terms of customs and traditions of the tribe. So the kids felt marginalized and as they got older. They got foisted off to charter or continuation schools partially because of the absences and because they felt uncomfortable. We wanted to work with the school system to make sure these kids felt comfortable in mainstream schools. Judge Christine Williams: A lot of the youth were being cited for different infractions on campus and the schools are not in reservation boundaries. Sometimes the tribal court was not hearing about these issues until later in the process and we felt that [the Wellness Court] was a way to communicate and problem-solve better around these cases. Walter: At Shingle Springs and in El Dorado County, a lot of young people were becoming truant and sent to classrooms and areas where they weren’t getting their needs met, so they had no impetus or motivation to come to school. The school attendance board didn’t know what kind of accountability to have in place with the children and their parents, and there was a lot of animosity among the tribal members and families against the schools and yet everyone wanted to solve the problem.  Why is a wraparound approach important in the Family Wellness Court?Judge Kingsbury: If you take a child that’s in a dysfunctional family and you put that child in a situation where he or she learns skills and then just put them back in the same dysfunctional situation, it’s no wonder when that child doesn’t succeed. However, when you work with the whole family -- and really roll up your sleeves as opposed to just checking boxes on a reunification plan -- it reaps dividends and the families emerge stronger and better able to navigate their lives without the intervention of the court system and I think that’s ultimately the goal. What were some of the early successes of the Family Wellness Court?Judge Kingsbury: I think that our greatest successes were getting youth to the point where they could matriculate and/or graduate; developing a shared vision (at the state court and tribal court level) for the children and families involved in the joint jurisdiction courts instead of working at cross purposes; partnering with the local schools to assist them in better meeting the needs of tribal youth and their families; tackling generational truancy; and strengthening families in the tribal community. The participants were committed to change. Even if they didn’t fully complete the program, they still accomplished our goals of having them graduate from high school, getting to a point where they no longer had to be justice-involved, getting them to matriculate from one school to another, and getting them enough credits to graduate. We also developed some lasting changes within the educational system that made everyone a lot more aware of the differences that tribal students brought to the table and hopefully got them to deal with them with more sensitivity. Judge Williams: Besides better outcomes, the unexpected success was the relationship between the county justice system and the tribal justice system and how it grew. The whole county including the reservation area became a better and safer place for everyone who came into that geographic area for the joint-jurisdiction project. We were able to see better coordination with county services that overlapped with tribal services like probation and most certainly the court. Together our outcomes for native people, non-native people, tribal members, casino patrons, and everyone who came into the area were better coordinated. There were a lot of stereotypes there for both sides, so there was a lot of mistrust when we first started but a lot of that got broken down and communication just improved. We saw a change in the way everyone felt about each other and things got better, safer, and more cooperative. What did you learn from each other and others from presiding over the Family Wellness Court?Judge Kingsbury: Many of us came from a background where it wasn’t really understood how significant historical trauma is and how much it pervades every aspect of tribal people’s lives. To learn how to make trauma-informed decisions and work at peeling away the layers takes some time and it may require a timeframe that is somewhat different from the same timeframe that we have in the state court system. It was easy to deal with delinquency because those cases don’t have timeframes associated with them, however once we got into all the other cases, those cases were driven by the statutory timeframes unless the involved people were willing to waive time. We figured out novel ways to solve problems. The tribal and county social workers were very creative and came up with really solid ideas on how to navigate a particular family’s problem. We found to really trust their views and vision on what they were doing. [Me and Judge Williams’] spidey sense may have gone in a different direction. We got assurance from the social workers that participants were doing well and to give them some faith. Judge Williams: Public Law 280, which is the jurisdictional law that covers the division between the federal, state, and tribal governments in California, can be a gift if you learn how to utilize concurrent jurisdiction. That was the biggest takeaway for me, and that potentially any tribe in any county can attempt to coordinate their share of jurisdiction under Public Law 280. At the time, El Dorado County and the Shingle Springs Miwok Band of Indians had a difficult history, as most counties and most tribes do. El Dorado County is really close to the epicenter of the Gold Rush which was a devastating time for native people, yet I found all the judges on the bench in El Dorado County were really open to the concepts around the Family Wellness Court. I learned that sharing jurisdiction can be done anywhere, with the right people in place. I didn’t know what to expect from the judges in El Dorado County. There was no native representation on the bench and no one necessarily reflecting back on my community, but I found the most willing, caring, and capable partners in the county and it’s really a credit to how esteemed our bench is across the state. It’s difficult work we [judges] do and tribes are working the same way to improve their situation the way counties are. What should state and tribal entities know about starting a joint-jurisdiction court?Judge Williams: I’m going to steal from my partner in anti-crime Judge Kingsbury: You can plan forever, but at some point, you just have to start. We had a two-year planning grant that was so incredibly helpful for us and got to put together strategic plans, host meetings and talk about what we wanted to see and who would be the key players. But at some point, you just have to start hearing a case and pull in people in person. Don’t wait forever for all the circumstances to be perfect – ever. They won’t ever be perfect so your goal is to make things better incrementally and anything you can do to partner between a tribe and a county is already going to be better. It doesn’t have to be a big joint-jurisdiction project. Start by diverting a case or diverting a sentence on one case. Create a youth sentencing circle that the tribe and the county can both use. Look at the strengths you already have and start there. We were successful because we already had a working relationship. El Dorado already had several wellness courts for veterans and mental health and were not new to the concept of alternative justice. For the tribe, they already had social services, after-school programs, tutors, and cultural programming for youth, so it already made sense to pair those things and start with a Family Wellness Court.  Don’t overwhelm yourself with a model that worked for someone else. Make a model that works for you and look at your strengths and build on those rather than on a deficit, needs-based model. Have an open mind about who your partners are going to be. Don’t come in with preexisting notions with what to expect. It’s hard to do with lots of past trauma between tribes and counties. Try to acknowledge that and embrace the past, but move forward through it to trust each other and try something new.  Walter: When you’re creating a court like this, you end up with a lot of divisive and hard conversations that do take place but it’s through those conversations that you begin to build relationships and begin to see a problem not just from your own or their own lens but from a shared lens. Then that shared problem leads to a shared solution and better problem-solving.  Really take the time to develop those relationships, and bring in somebody who is on the outside to help facilitate conversations. In other parts of the country, joint-jurisdiction courts fail because they didn’t bring in a neutral facilitator to help make sure things can get addressed in the right timing so relationships can flourish and don’t walk the other way.  Focus on what your common problem is and try not to get side-tracked. Don’t be afraid to shoot for the moon – it's really about reimagining a court system. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/how-el-dorado-and-shingle-springs-family-wellness-court-uses-alternative-methods-serve-tribal How the El Dorado and Shingle Springs Family Wellness Court Uses Alternative Methods to Serve Tribal Youth and FamiliesKaren.Datangel Tue, 11/26/2024 - 10:33 Feature The first of its kind in California, the joint-jurisdictional Family Wellness Court in El Dorado County hears a wide range of cases and uses strategies not often seen in traditional state courts to address justice-involved tribal youth in the areas of juvenile, child welfare, domestic violence, and criminal. Superior Court of El Dorado County Judge Gary Slossberg and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Chief Judge Victorio Shaw shared their insights about the court today, how the county and tribe partner in the collaborative court, and how they've seen court participants succeed. The Family Wellness Court began as a measure to reduce truancy within tribal youth. Would you say most of the cases you deal with now have to do with truancy? What kind of cases do you deal with now? Judge Gary Slossberg: I'm currently working on one adult case and a handful of juvenile cases. I've had at most six cases at one time. Because of the nature of the case type, some of the cases have a long life. Sometimes you have a kid who has difficulties and they can be in Wellness Court for years. Like starting in middle school, they may have difficulties getting to school on time, grades, and turning in assignments, so it could be several years that a child is in the Wellness Court. Some of them do it all the way until they graduate.  The tribal court is distinctive from the state court as they have a whole host of tools available that the state court doesn’t have including relationships. You have a case and there’s lots of people who know the family of the youth as they’re actively involved in the tribe, so that brings forward certain types of tools that you wouldn’t have in a state court system.  Judge Victorio Shaw: The bulk of the cases are still related to truancy or to students just not passing their classes. But we’ve also looked into expanding to DUI cases and behavioral health. We’re working on an agreement with the county to do mental health diversion. They will potentially consider us doing a mirrored program through the tribe. That’s how we were able to expand to domestic violence cases. The county does have behavioral health diversion and that was actually recommended by Judge Slossberg’s predecessor as a program that we could mirror on the tribal side in the Family Wellness Court. We do have an MOU (memorandum of understanding) in place; we’re just waiting on approval by the county.  If there was a tribal member that was charged with domestic violence, that case could be transferred post-adjudication to the Family Wellness Court. We would essentially monitor that individual’s progress in terms of their completion of the batterer’s intervention program, but we would also offer them tribal services like a Red Road class—which is a more traditional/cultural version of Alcoholics Anonymous—counseling, and any other services that we ascertain might benefit the individual. The idea is that we are able to help the individual in a more personalized way than the county would be able to and get them services that they can obtain on the reservation without having to leave and go to the county. There’s a cultural component, familiarity, and higher comfort level when they are able to get services through the tribe.  What are some ways you’ve seen the Family Wellness Court succeed?  Judge Slossberg: You see that kids do a 180-degree turnaround. They come in at first and are dismissive of the court, and over time, you see them have more trust and faith in the system. You also see the outcomes of them attending school more, getting better grades, and seeming more hopeful for the future. It creates a very supportive environment for the youth that are in crisis.  Judge Shaw: Many students turn their academics around completely. I’ve had more than one student go from F’s to straight A’s. It wasn’t automatic, it took time and really ascertaining where the family was at. We just don’t look at the individual, we look at the whole family as often as part of the issue why a student is not succeeding. We’re really able to customize what we do for each individual. Many times, they may need a place to study after school. Maybe they need rides to school, tutoring, or counseling. We might have to drug test them because there’s evidence they’re using substances. Through treating them and the family, we’ve graduated a number of students out of the program and out of high school who were frankly not passing or on track to graduate. We’ve seen attitudes turn around. We’ve seen individuals get off of substances and get help through counseling. We’ve seen them get off drugs entirely and see their health and physical appearance improve. They glow., come out of their shell, and start talking and engaging with the community at traditional ceremonies and events. The court is an extension of their tribal family. It’s really evident that we care on a much deeper level with the amount of attention, consideration, and support.  Can you share more about the importance of joint-jurisdiction courts and tribal/state partnerships?  Judge Slossberg: The Family Wellness Court takes a different approach than the standard state family or juvenile court. The discussions in court are more open and free-flowing and take a team approach to solving the issues confronting youth.  Sometimes youth in Wellness Court have the potential to be subject to the state juvenile justice system if they’re not trying to comply with Wellness Court orders. That can bring some leverage to the case, and it might get the child to pay attention a bit more. Sometimes there are just differences in approach. The state court is more linear, like A-Z, whereas the tribal court is almost like a case management process where you have lots of different players in the room and it’s more of an open discussion. The state court's knowledge base, particularly regarding criminal, juvenile justice, and family law procedures in the surrounding county, can be drawn upon to give appropriate context to cases. With those two different ways of approaching the court system, you find a nice balance, which works well to keep the kids in check and helps give them the support they need to make some positive changes.  Judge Shaw: The tribal members see themselves as part of the community that they reside in. This includes the county and we like to be good partners. We like to be responsible for our tribal citizens and their well-being. It’s all about decreasing recidivism and breaking the cycles of trauma and substance abuse, so if this program has a greater likelihood of success , it improves the overall well-being of the tribe in general and therefore the community at large.  The tribe provides all the resources so it’s less resources the county has to expend. But if we are decreasing recidivism and breaking these cycles, then that means less cases that the county will have in the future. It also improves the level of respect between the tribe and the county when we work together on something that turns out to be a success. It shows that the tribal government and nation really cares about its people and puts time and resources into improving the lives of their citizens. It really has garnered the mutual respect in the tribe and the county in that they see what we’re willing to do to improve the lives of tribal citizens. And we see what the county is willing to do in supporting the tribe and to respect the sovereignty of the tribe, the tribal government, and the tribal court as legitimate entities that make a difference in people’s lives.  What advice/words of encouragement do you have for courts and entities that would like to begin their own joint-jurisdiction courts?  Judge Slossberg: It’s been a valuable partnership for me. With the participants in the process, you get a lot out of it. It’s increased my awareness of the inner working of the tribe and allowed me to build and foster relationships, which is helpful for me professionally and practically with other things I do as a state court judge. Sometimes issues arise that relate to the tribe and it’s nice to have that background. Also, it’s a refreshing process to be a part of. The setup of the court is different from the state court in ways that are very positive and beneficial for the youth. The outcomes are great for the kids. You see positive change in children which you know is going to make a difference in the long haul. It’s good to be in a process like that as things can be so negative in a court system. It’s great when you’re involved in it and you’re making real positive change. You definitely see it happen in these collaborative courts. Judge Shaw: Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask if there are possibilities or potential to work together, especially when it comes to tribal youth. Both sides ultimately want the same thing and that is for young people to stay on the right track, to graduate, and be high functioning and well-adjusted adults. The tribe has a lot of resources and understanding of the tribal citizens. It can be an asset to the county and even show the county there are alternative ways to approach some of these issues. Be patient. There are mutual concerns, interests, and benefits that are obtainable for both sides. If someone was to ask 30-40 years ago if this Family Wellness Court would be operating the way it is, people wouldn’t have believed it given the back history of the relationships there. But it really goes to show that whether you’re on the tribal or county side, we’re all trying to do the same thing, which is improve the lives of our community and it only makes sense to try to work together.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-native-american-day-highlights-support-states-native-communities California Native American Day Highlights Support for State's Native CommunitiesKaren.Datangel Thu, 09/26/2024 - 13:50 Feature This Friday, California courts will close in observance of the California Native American Day state holiday. But courts are also taking the opportunity to recognize Native American people and celebrate their history in the state. San Bernardino Court Honors Tribal Communities  In 2021, Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first Native American to serve in the state legislature, authored AB 855 to amend the Code of Civil Procedure to recognize California Native American Day on the fourth Friday of September as a judicial holiday. The Judicial Council-sponsored bill was passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to take effect the next year. This week, Assemblymember Ramos took part in a California Native American Day celebration outside of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County, where cultural performers took part in traditional song and dance. ABC7 featured the celebration and spoke with Ramos and Judge Lisa Rogan, presiding judge for the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. "We are calling on other counties - superior court counties - to partner with tribal people from those areas to highlight the paid holiday of California's Native American Day," Ramos said. "All throughout San Bernardino County we have so much cultural awareness with our tribal family and to celebrate them as California's first people is extremely important to not only the employees but the people of our community," said Judge Rogan. Partnerships Between the State Court and Tribal Justice Systems Partnership Benefits Youth in San Diego CountyThe Intertribal Court of Southern California (“ICSC”) and the Superior Court of San Diego County collaborate to address the needs of Tribal youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. With the support of the superior court, the ICSC has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the District Attorney's Office and Probation Department to divert youth to the ICSC Tribal Youth Court, where peers serve as decision-makers to cultivate wellness-based responses. Additionally, because of the Tribal and state court partnership in San Diego, the county's probation department now has improved reporting in identifying Tribal youth. The collaboration started in 2021 and is led by Ana España, Presiding Juvenile Court Judge in the Superior Court of San Diego County, and Devon L. Lomayesva, Chief Judge of the Intertribal Court of Southern California. "The Tribes can inform the [state] court of culturally appropriate services that can be incorporated into a probation youth case plan," said Judge España. "By integrating culturally appropriate services, I believe there is more youth/family buy-in and it's more meaningful and relevant to the youth and family. And frankly, it’s just a matter of respect as well." "When youth in the system have that Tribal support, you're bringing in a component that they're familiar with, which improves their self-identity, helps them feel more grounded, and promotes their self-worth," said Chief Judge Lomayesva. "We're always going to be partners with our counties and if the youth can't be within their Tribal system, the services and settings should be culturally appropriate and be familiar with the Tribes they serve." Tribal Court-State Court Forum Formed in 2010, the Judicial Council's Tribal Court-State Court Forum improves the working relationship between California’s tribal and state courts and makes recommendations on matters where tribal and state courts overlap. The forum, made up of judges and members of both the tribal and state court communities, provides direction in areas such as: Jurisdictional issues Enforcement and recognition of protective orders and judgments Access to justice in Indian country in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence The forum also gathers data and develops resources relevant to Native American communities and tribal justice systems. In addition, the forum helps create rules, forms, and legislation relating to child support, guardianship, civil money judgments, and other areas involving state and tribal courts. At its September business meeting, the Judicial Council approved two new forms and revisions to four existing forms to clarify that the requirement to recognize and enforce child custody orders under the provisions of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act applies to custody orders issued by a tribal court. Tribal court judges report they have experienced problems having their child custody orders registered and enforced because the existing form refers only to out-of-state custody orders and does not reference tribal court orders. Judicial Council Offers Resources on Native American IssuesWith federal and state funding, the council maintains a Tribal/State Programs unit that provides legal services and technical assistance to local courts on inter-jurisdictional issues across all case types. That unit also assists with the development of policies, positions, and programs to ensure the highest quality of justice and service for California’s Native American communities. The unit provides staff to the council’s Tribal Court-State Court Forum and the California Child Welfare's CSEC Action Team, and develops resources to assist those involved in Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) proceedings understand their legal obligations under ICWA and comply with those requirements. The Tribal/State Programs Unit also worked on the Violence Against Women Education Project (VAWEP), an initiative designed to provide tribal and state courts with information, supplies, technical assistance, educational materials, and programs on the role of the courts in responding to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and human trafficking. Read more about Tribal Communities in California.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/thousands-court-appointed-volunteers-advocate-children-court Thousands of Court-Appointed Volunteers Advocate for Children in Court Corren, Blaine Thu, 07/25/2024 - 16:23 Feature Through no fault of their own, thousands of children every year must be moved from their homes for their own safety by social workers or law enforcement. They lose everything they’ve ever known all at once—family, friends, teachers, pets and belongings—without understanding why or what will happen next. CASA Volunteers Provide a Lifeline to Children in Foster CareTo help support children during this trying time of transition, judicial officers can appoint them a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a trained volunteer that advocates for children in juvenile court. CASA volunteers spend time with the child, monitor their needs, and provide child-focused recommendations on services and education based on the best interests of the child. “CASAs are the “eyes and ears” of the judge for children in foster care,” said Nevada County Judge B. Scott Thomsen at the July 12 Judicial Council business meeting. “CASA  volunteers, with their one-on-one advocacy, provide invaluable support during these tumultuous times," added Sharon M. Lawrence, chief executive officer for the California CASA Association. "They offer the children stability, consistency, and the hope they so desperately need." Unlike other mentoring programs, CASAs serve as an officer of the court, trained on topics such as the impact of trauma on children, cultural competency, and dependency laws. They get to know their assigned children and families, interviewing teachers, attorneys, social workers, service care providers, doctors, therapists, and anyone else who knows the child. “Beyond their service as court officers advocating to judges, CASAs are consistent presences,” Lawrence continued. “They show up for their children, taking them to the park, visiting them when they have moved to a new home, attending school performances, celebrating birthdays by bringing cupcakes to the children in their class, and connecting the children with their siblings.” Watch CASA presentation at July 12 Judicial Council business meeting State Invests in CASAsAt its July 12 business meeting, the Judicial Council approved allocations to fund 45 CASA programs that serve 52 California counties. The state provided $2.713 million in grant funds for fiscal year 2024–25. And previously, under the State Budget Act of 2022, Governor Newsom and the Legislature made an historic investment in CASA of $60 million, broken out into $20 million per year over 3 years. CASA Network Has Room to GrowMore than 7,000 CASA volunteers serve approximately 11,000 children, donating 400,000 hours per year to help children, judges, and other professionals in the state’s juvenile courts. Despite this enormous impact, more CASAs are needed for the roughly 70,000 children in foster care. “California CASA exists solely to support the work being done by our local programs,” added Lawrence. “We hope to provide more of the resources necessary so that every child who needs a CASA volunteer will have one by the year 2032.” Judicial Council’s Role in CASA ProgramThe Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and council staff help provide oversight and distribute funding to the CASA program. The council also provides training for CASA programs and local courts, as well as technical assistance related to grant funding, compliance, and data collection and evaluation. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/san-diego-courts-town-hall-explains-child-welfare-process-public San Diego Court’s Town Hall Explains the Child Welfare Process to the PublicCorren, Blaine Mon, 05/22/2023 - 15:31 Feature Nearly 40,000 calls alleging child abuse or neglect are made annually to the San Diego County’s hotline run by its Child Welfare Services agency. If social workers determine tips are credible and the child is at risk, they can ask the court to create a case to protect the child. But what happens next? A virtual town hall hosted last month by the Superior Court of San Diego County answered that question and more of the most common questions related to the child welfare system and juvenile dependency process. Questions included: Is each party to the case represented by an attorney? (answer: yes, if a party cannot afford a lawyer, the judge will appoint one—in most cases, the judge will also appoint an attorney for the child or nonminor dependent)   What happens if a parent doesn’t attend the initial court hearing? (answer: if the parents were notified and don’t appear, then the matter will go forward without them)   Does the court always place children with relatives? (answer: family is preferred, but if not available, then others with a connection to the family can be considered)   Image Panelists for the court's town hall included judges, attorneys, and representatives from local legal services agencies, Health & Human Services, and Child Welfare Services. “Court proceedings have several confidentiality requirements, which the public might see as a lack of transparency about the court, its processes, and the role of partner agencies,” said Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Ana Espana. “We want people to understand why and how we make our decisions, which are always in the best interests of the child.” Members of the public were encouraged to submit questions anonymously prior to the town hall through an online survey and had an opportunity to submit questions live during the event through the Q&A feature on Zoom. Of the 125 attendees who filled out the online post-event survey, all felt they got the information they wanted.   Image Panelists at the webinar for media included Judge Ana Espana (top right) and attorneys from the District Attorneys' Office and the Public Defender's Office. Court Holding More Outreach Events The April town hall was the first juvenile-focused webinar specifically for the public. But last October, the San Diego court held a webinar specifically for media that provided an overview of the juvenile justice system and what information reporters have access to when developing their stories. The panelists, which included judges and attorneys, explained what kinds of juvenile case information and proceedings are confidential and the considerations judges weigh when making those determinations.  The court plans to hold future outreach events later this year that will include panelists with lived experiences in juvenile dependency court and a discussion of changes to the child welfare system. For more information on the San Diego Superior Court’s Juvenile Court, please visit sdcourt.ca.gov/Juvenile. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/san-bernardino-court-hosts-virtual-townhall-juvenile-dependency-cases San Bernardino Court Hosts Virtual Townhall on Juvenile Dependency CasesCorren, Blaine Mon, 06/06/2022 - 13:00 Feature A juvenile dependency case begins over concerns that parents can’t keep their children safe from abuse or neglect. A recent townhall hosted virtually by the San Bernardino Superior Court provided the public an opportunity to ask panelists about the juvenile dependency process and how it works. The event also detailed how justice system partners recognize the potential for bias in the juvenile dependency system and how they ensure their decisions are not affected by it. “The overwhelming goal of the court is to keep the child with the parents,” said Judge Erin Alexander, one of the panelists. “But if it’s not safe, we need to find an alternative to protect the child.” In addition to judges, other panelists included representatives from Family and Children's Services, Children’s Advocacy Group, and a local law firm representing the parents’ interests. Appearing remotely, the panelists answered more than a dozen questions from the public—some were emailed ahead of time, while others were posed live via chat. Questions included: Do I have to represented by an attorney? (answer: no, but it’s highly recommended)   Who can qualify to be a guardian for the child? (answer: family is preferred, but if not available then others somehow connected to the family can be considered)   If I report that a child is danger, is my complaint kept confidential? (answer: yes) At the completion of the virtual townhall, the court invited participants to take an online survey to help improve outreach events and ensure they meet the needs of the public. The court created its award-winning townhall program to increase community engagement and foster awareness, change, and understanding of the court system. Launched in 2020, a total of 1,100 people have signed up for the court’s five virtual townhall events that it’s held thus far. Previous topics have included homelessness, mental health, civil unrest and racism. “The court is committed to engage with the community and advance initiatives that support equal access to justice,” said Presiding Judge R. Glenn Yabuno. The court’s next townhall is scheduled for this fall and will focus on juvenile delinquency cases. Follow the court on Twitter for news about its events and services. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/santa-clara-judge-lead-new-statewide-juvenile-justice-effort Santa Clara Judge to Lead New Statewide Juvenile Justice EffortBalassone, Merrill Fri, 01/07/2022 - 13:36 Feature In Brief: Judge Katherine Lucero  •  Incoming Director, Office of Youth and Community Restoration•  20 years as a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge•  Launched collaborative courts such as Family Treatment Court (assists parents with substance abuse interfering with custody or visitation); Family Wellness Court (supports drug exposed infants and toddlers); and Teen Court (specializing in therapeutic approaches for teenagers in dependency court)   This month, Santa Clara County Judge Katherine Lucero will step down from the bench to head a new Office of Community and Youth Restoration, as California continues an overhaul of its juvenile justice system that will shutter state youth prisons in favor of providing rehabilitation services closer to home. Senate Bill 823 created this state-level youth justice agency, which operates within the Department of Health and Human Services instead of the Department of Corrections. We spoke with Judge Lucero about California’s major shift in juvenile justice, her two decades as a judge, and how her own traumatic childhood led her to start collaborative courts that address root causes of family crisis and crime. Q: What should Californians know about Senate Bill 823? Judge Lucero: In a nutshell, this new legislation closed our statewide youth prison system and mandated counties keep their highest-need youth as close to home as possible. Evidence has demonstrated that youth in the justice system who stay close to home are more connected to their families, have lower recidivism rates, and are more prepared for the transition back to their community. Q: How has California’s overall approach to juvenile justice changed in recent years? Judge Lucero: We have a lot of science that we didn’t have 10 or 15 years ago about adolescent brain development, and how the time between the ages of 13 to 25 is a time of great brain growth and learning. What we’re seeing in this legislation—placing the juvenile rehabilitation structure under California’s Department of Health and Human services, for example—is all new. Making sure we’re trauma-informed [recognizing a person likely experienced trauma which could play a role in their behavior] and gender-specific in our approaches is also important. Many of the girls who end up in the juvenile justice system—as high as 50 percent—are LGBTQ and gender non-conforming. Q: What are some of the biggest challenges in juvenile justice? Judge Lucero: We’re coming to terms with our overincarceration of black, brown, and Native youth—and that those youth come from the least-resourced neighborhoods, where schools no longer have mental health counselors, sports, art, drama, or librarians.  We’ve also learned punitive solutions breed negative results. The entire reckoning and clarity we’ve experienced over the last few years has given people like me, who work in the system, permission to try new and creative ways to deal with juvenile defendants. We no longer have to be so afraid of changing the status quo. WATCH: Judge Lucero talks about how her traumatic childhood led her to create Santa Clara County’s collaborative “wellness” courts that seek to address the root causes of family crisis and crime. Q: What inspired you to become a judge and to focus on juvenile justice? I just wanted to be helpful, and my first version of that idea was to be a nun (laughs). I think that was a lot of people’s first version in my generation because of Sally Field [who starred in the 1967 movie The Flying Nun]. I grew up in a household that looked very similar to the households that I saw in juvenile dependency court. My father was an active alcoholic, and he battered my mom when he was drinking. My father got sober when I was 15. I saw him get better, and I saw my family heal. That was a huge reason why I really believed in the wellness court. I got to see my dad become a man of great respect in our community. The same man who had multiple DUIs became a recovered alcoholic and counseled many others who struggled with the same issues. That’s why I love working with families and making sure they have every opportunity they possibly can to heal together.