https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/publicservice-2026 Chief Justice, Judicial Council Honor Public Servants of California's Judicial BranchKaren.Datangel Mon, 05/04/2026 - 11:22 News Release Chief Justice of California Patricia Guerrero and the Judicial Council of California today mark their fourth annual celebration of Public Service Recognition Week. Said Chief Justice Guerrero: "As we mark the Judicial Council's one hundredth year, we honor those who built and who sustain this constitutional entity, and a judiciary that continues to evolve with the people it serves. As the third branch of government, our commitment remains firm to serve all Californians and uphold the rule of law as a cornerstone of our democracy. I am grateful to the more than 20,000 public servants across our state’s judicial branch who dedicate themselves to these principles every day." Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated annually during the first week of May to honor the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees. Videos produced by the Judicial Council highlight six of California's dedicated public servants, who speak about why they choose to serve in the judicial branch and with the council. JUDGE BUNMI AWONIYI Judge at the Sacramento Superior Court and council member:   JAYME LEE Associate analyst in the council’s Leadership Support Services office supporting various high-level projects: JAKE CHATTERS Court executive officer at the Placer Superior Court and chair of the council’s Data Analytics Advisory Committee: JAGAN SINGH Deputy director in the council's Facilities Services office, overseeing courthouse construction and modernization projects: JUDGE JUDITH DULCICH Judge at the Kern Superior Court and council member:   MARTHA WRIGHT Manager in the council's Criminal Justice Services office supporting collaborative justice courts, traffic fines and fees, and pretrial services: View all videos on YouTube, including the "We Choose to Serve..." montage. About the Judicial Council of California The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-guerrero-announces-2026-civic-learning-award-honorees Chief Justice Guerrero Announces 2026 Civic Learning Award HonoreesMartin.Novitski Fri, 05/01/2026 - 12:05 News Release SACRAMENTO—Today, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero announced the recipients of the 2026 Civic Learning Awards, the state’s highest honor recognizing K–12 schools for outstanding achievement in civic education. “These schools show what’s possible when school administrators, teachers, and students work together to make civic engagement a core part of the educational experience,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. One elementary school, one middle school, and one high school received the Civic Learning Award of Excellence, highlighting their exceptional programs that empower students to engage meaningfully in their communities and develop lifelong civic skills. This year’s top honorees are: Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Elementary School (Sacramento, Sacramento County) South Junior High School (Anaheim, Orange County) Norwalk High School (Norwalk, Los Angeles County) The following schools were recognized with the Award of Merit: Tarpey Elementary School (Clovis, Fresno County) Wangenheim Middle School (San Diego, San Diego County)  Yerba Buena High School (San Jose, Santa Clara County) The following schools were recognized with the Award of Distinction: Wittmann Elementary School (Cerritos, Los Angeles County) Rancho Viejo Middle School (Hemet, Riverside County) Pacific High School (San Bernardino, San Bernardino County) Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep's middle and high school program was honored with an emeritus award in recognition of its continued excellence in civic engagement. Launched in 2013, the award celebrates schools that make space for high‑quality civic learning and engagement. For the first time in several years, the 2026 program asked schools to submit details for how other schools could replicate their top programs. A total of 112 programs were submitted by elementary, middle, and high school educators. Judges from California courts will present the awards in person this September as part of the judicial branch’s Constitution Month commemoration. Chief Justice Guerrero will continue her tradition of visiting schools earning the top Award of Excellence. Judges from the courts of appeal and the superior courts visit honorees in their jurisdictions for the other award categories. About the Civic Learning Awards The Civic Learning Awards program is co‑sponsored by the Chief Justice of California and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The award recognizes schools that embed civic learning into schoolwide practices, including classroom instruction, student-led projects, service learning, and opportunities to take informed action. More information is available at powerofdemocracy.org/civic-learning-award. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/chief-justice-patricia-guerrero-host-law-day-event-sacramento Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero to Host Law Day Event in SacramentoMartin.Novitski Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:54 News Release For media interested in attending the event, contact Jackie.D'Almeida@jud.ca.gov for RSVP information. SACRAMENTO— Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero will welcome judges, educators, and students to the Third District Court of Appeal on May 1, in celebration of Law Day, a national day recognizing the rule of law and its role in our constitutional democracy. The Law Day event underscores the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to engaging young people, expanding civic knowledge, and strengthening community partnerships across California. Civic Learning Initiative The event is being organized by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero’s Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative. Students from local high schools will deliver oratory pieces on this year’s Law Day theme, “The Rule of Law and the American Dream,” the initiative will release a new Rule of Law classroom lesson available to any K-12 public school that hosts a judge through the Judges in the Classroom program. In addition, the Chief Justice will announce the recipients of the initiative’s 2026 Civic Learning Awards. The program, co-sponsored by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, honors California K–12 schools for exceptional commitment to civic education. This year’s program will focus honors on replicable models that engage students in civics, service learning, and community service. The event will be livestreamed on the Power of Democracy website beginning at 2:30PM, and a recording of the event will be posted on Monday, May 3. More information about the Civic Learning Awards is available at powerofdemocracy.org/civic-learning-award. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/third-appellate-district-associate-justice-elena-j-duarte-retire Third Appellate District Associate Justice Elena J. Duarte to Retirenatalie.l.ston… Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:45 News Release California Court of Appeal Associate Justice Elena J. Duarte will retire from the Third District at the end of May after 15 years on the court and over 19 years of judicial service. “The decision to serve the public and be visible in the community for my entire career thus far has been the best decision I ever made,” said Duarte. “I look forward to the possibility of additional opportunities to serve the public in the future.” A native Californian from San Jose, Duarte turns 60 later this year and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in December 2010 by Governor Schwarzenegger. She has been the only Latina on the single division Third District bench the entire time she has served. She is also its longest-serving Latinx justice. Upon her appointment in 2010, three women served simultaneously on the 11-member court for the first time in that court’s history. Duarte sat on the first all-female panel to hear oral argument at the Third District in April 2012, and a photograph of that historic event is displayed in the court’s Memorial Vestibule just before entering the courtroom.  A three-time judicial appointee, Duarte was elevated to her position on the Court of Appeal after serving as a judge on the Sacramento Superior Court from 2008 to 2010. Before moving to Sacramento, she served as a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court. At the time of her first judicial appointment, she was Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section at the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Her career as a federal litigator began upon her graduation from Stanford Law School in 1992, when she was accepted into the national Attorney General’s Honor Program and moved to Washington, D.C. as one of 12 honor graduates in the Criminal Division. She subsequently returned to California to prosecute federal cases in both Sacramento and Los Angeles. Duarte will be honored in May as Sacramento County Bar Association’s Judge of the Year and with a lifetime achievement award by the Cruz Reynoso Bar Association, named for the first Latinx judge on the Third District who was then elevated to the California Supreme Court as its first Latinx associate justice. Administrative Presiding Justice Laurie Earl wrote: “In addition to her tremendous contribution to the community, Justice Duarte is a wonderful colleague. She fully prepares for each case that is assigned to her, even those in which she is not the author. She treats litigants fairly and affords those who appear for oral argument the opportunity to be heard and the respect of preparation. She asks questions that go to the heart of the issues before us. She is a solid judge on our court, and her retirement will leave an enormous gap on our bench.” https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judicial-council-approves-mandatory-reporting-civil-arrests-court-facilities Judicial Council Approves Mandatory Reporting of Civil Arrests in Court FacilitiesCorren, Blaine Fri, 04/24/2026 - 12:44 News Release VIA WEB CONFERENCE—Judicial Council members approved a new rule at their April 24 business meeting that requires courts to report civil arrests—such as those related to federal immigration enforcement actions—that happen in superior court facilities. The new rule aims to help the judicial branch better understand the impacts civil arrests in court facilities have on courts and access to justice and assist the branch in responding to court or community concerns. Sharif Elmallah, court executive officer for the Butte Superior Court, told council members about an incident at the Oroville courthouse where federal agents conducted a day-long enforcement operation and took several people into custody. “When people avoid court facilities out of fear, the court system cannot serve them and cannot function as intended,” said Elmallah, who also serves as co-chair of the council’s Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Court Executives Advisory Committee Joint Rules Subcommittee. “That affects the victim seeking protection under the law, witnesses whose testimony may be critical for parties to present their cases, and litigants who depend on their participation.” The new rule says reports should include, if known, the location of the arrest at the court facility, the law enforcement agency that conducted the arrest, whether any individuals were taken into custody, and if the arresting officer presented a judicial warrant. “The goal of rule 10.440 is data collection,” said Judge Scott R. L. Young, co-chair of the council’s Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Court Executives Advisory Committee Joint Rules Subcommittee. “The Judicial Council can and should understand where, and how, civil arrest activity occurs.” The rule goes into effect May 1, and courts will start reporting the information on civil arrests in court facilities to the council in June. The council expects to start posting the information on a publicly available dashboard in July. Watch video of this agenda item Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Representation for Children and Families in Dependency Proceedings: The council approved redistributions of court-appointed juvenile dependency counsel funds for fiscal year 2025-26. The allocations promote equitable distribution of resources and support effective representation for children and families in dependency proceedings. After the initial proposal for allocating the unspent dependency counsel funding was submitted to the council, another court identified $150,000 for reallocation. A revised council report will reflect the updated amount of available unspent dependency counsel funding, which increases from $980,773 to $1,130,773. Watch video of this agenda item Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases: The council received a report from the 2025 Proposition 66 Counsel Working Group, which examined the appointment of attorneys for petitioners in capital habeas corpus proceedings in both the superior courts and the Courts of Appeal. The report provides strategies judicial branch entities could use to recruit and appoint counsel for petitioners in such proceedings, which includes advocating for appellate counsel funding and reactivating regional committees to assist superior courts in their efforts to recruit attorneys to take these cases. Watch video of this agenda item California Access to Justice Commission: The council heard a presentation from the California Access to Justice Commission on how for 30 years it has supported courts, the bar, and justice system stakeholders with research, reports, and support for the expansion of access to justice through legal services, self-help centers, navigators and small claims advisors, remote court services and proceedings, language assistance, libraries, and other community agencies and services. In addition, the council appointed Sacramento County Judge Andi Mudryk to one of the three positions on the commission appointed by the council. Watch video of this agenda item Gender Inclusivity of Juror Identification and Juror Questionnaires: The council adopted a new standard of judicial administration to ensure gender inclusivity in juror identification and juror questionnaires per Assembly Bill 1899 (2024). The council also approved changes to existing rules of court, forms, and standards to ensure language directed to jurors is gender inclusive. Report on Pretrial Programs: The council received the latest report on court pretrial programs and practices that promote safe, efficient, fair, and timely pretrial release of individuals booked into jail. The report includes data on bookings, release types, assessments conducted, the use of monitoring and supportive services, and case closure outcomes. The complete meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center—an archived webcast of today’s meeting will be posted to the center as soon as it is available. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-supreme-court-amends-rules-professional-conduct California Supreme Court Amends Rules of Professional ConductBalassone, Merrill Thu, 04/23/2026 - 13:21 News Release The California Supreme Court on Thursday issued orders on two State Bar of California petitions to amend the Rules of Professional Conduct, relating to domestic violence restraining order cases and attorney discipline for making false or misleading public statements. Court Approves Amendments to Rule 7.3 on Client Solicitation The court granted the State Bar’s petition to amend Rule 7.3 (Solicitation of Clients), adopting measures aimed at protecting those involved in domestic violence restraining order proceedings. Under the approved amendments, attorneys are prohibited from soliciting clients who are named as respondents in petitions for ex parte temporary domestic violence restraining orders before they have been formally served. Such solicitations could provide advance notice of the proceedings, potentially allowing respondents to evade service and increasing safety risks for those seeking protection through the restraining orders, according to the State Bar. In adopting the amendments, the court clarified the prohibition does not apply if the respondent is a current or former client of the attorney. The court also incorporated cross-references to Rule 1.4, which describes the obligation to keep clients informed of significant developments (Rule 1.4(a)(3)) and the provision allowing attorneys to delay client communications if disclosure could lead to imminent harm (Rule 1.4(c)). The amendments to Rule 7.3 will take effect on June 1. Court Denies Proposed Amendments to Rules 8.2 and 8.4; Seeks Public Comment The court denied the State Bar’s petition to amend Rules 8.2 (Judicial Officials) and 8.4 (Misconduct). The proposed changes sought to clarify that attorneys could face discipline for making false or misleading public statements—including statements framed as opinion—that might prejudice judicial proceedings or endanger judges, court personnel, or others. The court instead directed the State Bar to solicit public comment on alternative language to: Clarify the purpose and scope of Rule 8.2; and Specify that, under Rule 8.4, “true threats of violence or incitements of unlawful imminent action” directed at parties, judges, or judicial officers may constitute conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. The court directed the State Bar to circulate the alternative proposal for a 45-day public comment period. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-consider-appointments-courts-appeal-8 Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal natalie.l.ston… Wed, 04/22/2026 - 09:24 News Release The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold in-person hearings in San Francisco on May 22 starting at 9:30 a.m. to consider five appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The commission will consider the following appointments: 9:30 a.m.: Judge Stephen Goorvitch, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Two (Los Angeles) 10:30 a.m.: Justice Joanne Motoike, as presiding justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three (Santa Ana)  11:30 a.m.: Judge Amy Guerra, as associate justice of the Fifth Appellate District (Fresno) 12:30 p.m.: Judge Eran M. Bermudez, as associate justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division One (San Diego)  1:30 p.m.: Judge Deborah C. Servino, as associate justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three (Santa Ana) The hearing webcast will be streamed live on the California Courts Newsroom. The state Constitution specifies that a gubernatorial appointment to the Court of Appeal is effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.  The commission members who will consider the appointments are California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Chair); California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Presiding Justice Frances Rothschild (for the Second Appellate District, Division One, hearing)*; Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez (for the Fourth Appellate District, Divisions One and Three, hearings); and Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill (for the Fifth Appellate District hearing).  *Presiding Justice Frances Rothschild will appear virtually for the 9:30 a.m. hearing for Judge Stephen Goorvitch. Appointee Biographies Judge Stephen Goorvitch would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Judith T. Ashmann-Gerst. He has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2015. Before joining the bench, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, from 2007 to 2015. He was counsel at O’Melveny and Myers from 2003 to 2007. He served as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2001 to 2003. He served as a staff attorney in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1998 to 2001. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.  Justice Joanne Motoike would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary. She has served as an associate justice in the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, since 2022. She served as an Orange County Superior Court judge from 2013 to 2022. Before joining the bench, she was a senior deputy public defender in Orange County from 2008 to 2013. She also worked as a trial attorney at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal from 2006 to 2008. She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.  Judge Amy Guerra would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Bruce Smith. She has served as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2018. Before joining the bench, she worked as the chief defense attorney at the Fresno County Alternate Defense Office from 2014 to 2018 and as an associate with the office from 2007 to 2014. She received her Juris Doctor from the San Joaquin College of Law.  Judge Eran M. Bermudez would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Richard D. Huffman. She has served as a judge in the Imperial County Superior Court since 2018. Before joining the bench, she worked as a compliance resolution officer at the University of California, San Diego, from 2016 to 2018 and in private practice from 2005 to 2016. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.  Judge Deborah C. Servino would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Thomas M. Goethals. She has served as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court since 2009. Before joining the bench, she served as a deputy attorney general at the California Attorney General’s Office from 1997 to 2009. Previously, she worked in private practice and as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1995 to 1997. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.   Testimony and Comment Requests to testify or written comments on the appointment must be received by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on May 15 (five court days prior to hearing). Anyone wishing to testify before the commission must state that request in writing and include a summary of the facts on which any testimony or opinion will be based.   Submissions via email to coja@jud.ca.gov are strongly encouraged. Hard copies are not required.   If you would like to mail your request, you may also reach the commission at:   Commission on Judicial Appointments   c/o Chief Justice of California   Supreme Court of California   350 McAllister Street   San Francisco, California 94102   Attention: Secretary to the Commission   Guidelines for the Commission on Judicial Appointments are published in the appendix to the California Rules of Court and are posted on the California Courts website. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/judicial-council-consider-mandatory-reporting-civil-arrests-court-facilities Judicial Council to Consider Mandatory Reporting of Civil Arrests in Court FacilitiesCorren, Blaine Fri, 04/17/2026 - 15:57 News Release VIA WEB CONFERENCE—Judicial Council members will consider a new rule at their April 24 business meeting that would require courts to report civil arrests—such as those related to federal immigration enforcement actions—that happen in superior court facilities. The proposed rule aims to help the judicial branch better understand the impacts civil arrests in court facilities have on courts and access to justice, as well as assist the branch in responding to court or community concerns. Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Report on Pretrial Programs: The council will consider the latest report on court pretrial programs and practices that promote safe, efficient, fair, and timely pretrial release of individuals booked into jail. The report includes data on bookings, release types, assessments conducted, the use of monitoring and supportive services, and case closure outcomes. Gender Inclusivity of Juror Identification and Juror Questionnaires: The council will consider adopting a new standard of judicial administration to ensure gender inclusivity in juror identification and juror questionnaires per Assembly Bill 1899 (2024). The proposal also recommends changes to existing rules of court, forms, and standards that currently use language directed to jurors that is not gender inclusive. Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases: The council will receive a report from its 2025 Proposition 66 Counsel Working Group, which examined the appointment of counsel for petitioners in capital habeas corpus proceedings in both the superior courts and the Courts of Appeal. The report will summarize information the working group received from speakers with experience in capital habeas corpus proceedings and provide suggestions that judicial branch entities may consider in their efforts to recruit and appoint counsel for petitioners in such proceedings. California Access to Justice Commission: The council will hear a presentation from the California Access to Justice Commission, which works with courts, the bar, and justice system stakeholders to expand access to justice through legal services, self-help centers, navigators and small claims advisors, language assistance, libraries, and other community agencies and services. The complete council meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center. A link to a live webcast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website on the day of the meeting. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/fourth-appellate-district-announces-destruction-old-court-records-20 Fourth Appellate District Announces Destruction of Old Court RecordsMartin.Novitski Wed, 04/08/2026 - 09:00 News Release Riverside—The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, has announced its intention to destroy original proceedings pursuant to Rule 10.1028(d)(1) of the California Rules of Court. All original proceedings (excluding those with published opinions) are preserved for a period longer than 10 years. The records transfer lists of the cases and files relating to this destruction of old court records are available on the court’s website: List Anyone who knows of a reason why any of the records listed should be retained, whether for historical or other reasons, should notify AnnDee Smith, Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer. The reasons for retention should be sent in writing by May 8th, 2026 to:                     AnnDee Smith, Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer                     Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two                     3389 12th Street                     Riverside, CA  92501 Please note that records and case files for actions that result in a published opinion will be retained permanently by the California State Archives, 1020 “O” Street, Sacramento, CA  95814. The Reference Desk can be contacted at (916) 653-2246. Their website is www.sos.ca.gov/archives. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/third-appellate-district-announces-destruction-old-court-records-0 Third Appellate District Announces Destruction of Old Court Recordsnatalie.l.ston… Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:43 News Release SACRAMENTO – The Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, announces its intention to destroy the following records in accordance with the California Rules of Court, rule 10.1028(c): Civil cases with case numbers C054608 through C073746. If anyone knows of a reason why a particular case, among the above numbered cases, should be retained, notify Todd C. Eyster, Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer, in writing setting forth in detail the reason(s) for retention. All requests must be received by May 6 and may be sent to 3DC-Comments@jud.ca.gov, or mailed to: Todd C. Eyster Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District 914 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814