https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/uc-berkeley-students-get-inside-look-careers-court-system UC Berkeley Students Get Inside Look into Careers in the Court SystemKaren.Datangel Mon, 07/28/2025 - 14:26 Feature Students in a UC Berkeley program that enables students to gain insight and experience into professional environments got a front row seat to learn about careers in California's court system. On July 16 and 18, the Judicial Council hosted a group of students from the Cal Job Shadow Program to help them explore career pathways, build their professional network, and learn how to apply their academic majors through connecting with professionals with a similar background. The job shadow program is co-sponsored by UC Berkeley Career Engagement and the Cal Alumni Association. UC Berkeley Students Hear From Council and Court Staff The July event marked the first time the Judicial Council has participated in the Cal Job Shadow Program, a short-term externship that can last from one day to two weeks through remote, in-person, or hybrid experiences. The council’s Administrative Director Shelley Curran welcomed the student cohort, and throughout the day, participating council staff members spoke about their work and why they chose to work in public service. Council staff delivered presentations on the judicial branch and legislative process, collaborative courts, and language access to the courts. Court staff from the San Francisco Superior Court also visited with students, providing insight on how data analytics informs court operations. Students also heard from court staff from the superior courts in Fresno, Placer, Kern, and Riverside counties, who participated in a virtual mediation role play with members from the council's Center for Families, Children, and the Courts. The student group toured the California Supreme Court and learned more about how cases get to the high court. Students also got a peek into the California Judicial Center Library to learn more about the vast resources and information available on the court system. The group attended the July 18 Judicial Council business meeting, and some council staff mentors offered additional shadowing over the week, giving students more opportunities to observe day-to-day activities and complete small projects. Job Shadow Program Opens Students to New Post-Grad Possibilities The Cal Job Shadow Program matches interested students to shadow organizations based on their educational and career interests. One incoming senior, Li Wan, is a data science major, but her interests were two-fold. "I'm an international re-entry student from China and I'm interested in how things work in the U.S.," said Wan. "It's why I was interested in this program: to learn more about data analytics in the courts and how the courts work to help society." For others like incoming senior Layla Goldberg, the opportunity gave her areas to consider prior to possibly applying for law school. "I've always pictured myself in the courts going to trial for my defendants, but I haven't 100 percent decided yet," said Goldberg. "I want to explore government affairs during my gap year. I've always been in nonprofit work in the past, but seeing what the Judicial Council is doing as a government entity has been exciting." Even for those with public service experience like incoming junior Citlaly Espino -- who worked at two congressional offices -- spending time with the Judicial Council opened her eyes to new opportunities. "I feel like my options in public service are so much broader than I expected," said Espino. "I can be in so many roles that I didn't know existed." View photos from the Judicial Council's activities with the Cal Job Shadow Program on Flickr. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/new-riverside-county-courthouse-menifee-improves-service-public New Riverside County Courthouse in Menifee Improves Service to the PublicCorren, Blaine Mon, 06/02/2025 - 14:10 Feature Completed in the summer of 2024, the new Menifee Justice Center in Riverside County stands as a symbol of the judicial branch’s commitment to increasing access to justice and court services for county residents. Recognizing this facility upgrade for the public, the Southern California chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) honored the courthouse project with its Project Achievement Award. The award “recognizes projects that serve as an example to the industry and are true pinnacles of excellence and innovation.” New Courthouse Features The Menifee courthouse offers services not possible due to space restrictions in the county’s other court facilities, such as enhanced and expanded jury assembly and deliberation rooms, an adequately sized self-help center and children's waiting room, and attorney interview/witness waiting rooms. The new building also addressed overcrowding, security, and accessibility issues in the court’s previous facility. Building Is Energy Efficient The building’s sustainability features satisfy the California Energy Code and qualify it for a LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance “green” buildings, which aligns with the judicial branch's goal of reducing its carbon footprint.  The courthouse’s sustainability features include drought-tolerant landscaping, efficient irrigation and plumbing systems, and energy-efficient lighting. Community Input into New Courthouse A broad-based Project Advisory Group for the courthouse project consisted of community, legal, and government leaders. The group provided input throughout the site selection, design, and construction process. In addition, public input was a part of the environmental review process. Part of a Statewide Courthouse Construction Program  The new courthouse project in Menifee was ranked as an “Immediate Need” in the judicial branch’s capital-outlay plan, making it among the branch’s highest-priority infrastructure projects. Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 35 new courthouse projects, with another 18 projects underway and in various stages. These include new court facilities in both large and small counties, as well as urban and rural areas across the state. For more information on the Menifee Justice Center, visit the California court’s website at courts.ca.gov/facilities/riverside-county-new-menifee-justice-center. To see photos of the courthouse dedication ceremony celebrating the renovation project, visit the California Courts Flickr channel. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/publicservice Chief Justice, Judicial Council Honor Public Servants of California's Judicial BranchBalassone, Merrill Mon, 05/05/2025 - 16:47 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the Judicial Council of California today mark their third annual celebration of Public Service Recognition Week. Said California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero: "This week we honor the 20,000 dedicated public servants of our state's judicial branch of government. Through their work, they safeguard due process, uphold the rule of law, and help ensure that justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for the communities we serve 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 five of California's dedicated public servants, who speak about why they choose to serve in the judicial branch. JUSTICE CHARLES SMILEY Associate justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One: LAILA WAHEED Court executive officer for Nevada County Superior Court, who started as a Judicial Fellow:   AJ GUZMAN Chief information officer for Sutter County Superior Court, who helps make remote access to courts a reality: LATRICE BROWN California Supreme Court capital appointments coordinator, who helps ensure defendants in death penalty cases have adequate representation: SHERI GULINO Civil and probate director with Riverside County Superior Court, who launched one of the state's first CARE Act programs:   View all videos on YouTube. Special thanks to the Superior Courts of Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, and San Francisco counties for video footage highlighting their dedicated employees, and to the County of San Diego for CARE Court graduation footage. 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/california-high-school-students-compete-become-2025-state-mock-trial-championship-team California High School Students Compete to Become 2025 State Mock Trial Championship TeamKaren.Datangel Tue, 03/11/2025 - 16:51 Feature Update (Mar. 17, 2025): Trinity Pacific Christian School in Ventura County will once again represent the state of California as the winner of the statewide finals and will advance to the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix, Arizona from May 7-10. See results here. Thousands of students all over the state have donned their best suits and public speaking skills as they acted out various roles in the courtroom. Now it’s time to see who takes top honors.  After weeks of competition, students from 32 California counties gear up for this year's finals of the California Mock Trial Competition, which takes place in Los Angeles from March 14-16.  Participants will argue the fictitious kidnapping case People v. Gold. The defendant Logan Gold has been charged with the kidnapping of Taylor Alexander, who is a rival candidate to Gold’s spouse Harper Dorais in a city council race in the rural mountain town of Emerald Bend, California. Gold is the assistant campaign manager to their spouse and is also the sole hotel owner in town. The prosecution argues that Gold had political and financial motives for abducting Alexander. The defense argues that Gold was without a cell phone and GPS tracking the day Alexander was abducted, which was the day of the city council candidate debate. The pretrial issue centers on a defense motion to exclude a potentially incriminating statement made by Gold while in police custody.  Teach Democracy (formerly known as the Constitutional Rights Foundation) created the California Mock Trial Program in 1980. The statewide program stemmed from a successful model in Los Angeles County and helps students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society.  In addition to the mock trials themselves, counties award individual honors to students in courtroom artist and journalist contests.  Check out some highlights from different county competitions in our interactive map below (If you are unable to view the map below, click here). If you wish for your county to be included, contact courtnews@jud.ca.gov with information, photos, and links. California high schools have placed in first or second place four times in the National Mock Trial Competition since 1984. Year School County Place 1989 John Marshall High School Los Angeles 2nd 1994 Arlington High School Riverside 1st 2005 Tamalpais High School Marin 1st 2013 La Reina High School Ventura 2nd https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-chief-justice-dedicate-new-riverside-county-courthouse-menifee-august-23 California Chief Justice to Dedicate New Riverside County Courthouse in Menifee: August 23Corren, Blaine Wed, 08/07/2024 - 17:40 News Release What:  California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero will join judges and staff from the Superior Court of Riverside County to officially commemorate the opening of the new Menifee Justice Center. The new courthouse opened for business July 8, 2024. Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 35 new courthouse construction projects and another 16 projects are underway and in various stages. Who:  The ceremony will include remarks by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Presiding Judge Judith C. Clark, and Judicial Council Administrative Director Shelley Curran. When:  Friday, August 23, 2024, 1:00–3:00 p.m. Where:  Front steps of the New Menifee Justice Center, 27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA NOTE: The ceremony is by invitation only and NOT open to the public—the court invites media to attend—email courtexecutiveoffice@riverside.courts.ca.gov to RSVP. Why:  The new courthouse will have room for basic services not possible at the previous courthouse due to space restrictions, such as jury assembly and deliberation rooms, an adequately sized self-help center and children's waiting room, and attorney interview/witness waiting rooms. The new building also addresses overcrowding, security, and accessibility issues. Owner: Judicial Council of CaliforniaArchitectural/Engineering Firm:  Perkins and Will – Los AngelesConstruction Management Agency:  Vanir Construction Management, Inc.Construction Manager at Risk:  Clark Construction Group, LLC For more information on the project is available here.