https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/photos-dedication-ceremony-new-courthouse-santa-rosa Photos: Dedication Ceremony for New Courthouse in Santa RosaCorren, Blaine Thu, 06/04/2026 - 15:28 Feature Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero joined judges, court administrators, and locally elected officials on May 29 to commemorate the new Hall of Justice courthouse for the Superior Court of Sonoma County. “Courthouses should reflect the dignity and integrity of the rule of law,” said Chief Justice Guerrero, who called the new Santa Rosa courthouse a new symbol of justice for the residents of Sonoma County. In addition to remarks by the Chief Justice and local judges, court staff played a prominent part in the dedication program. Court employee and U.S. Navy Veteran Branden “Aric” Rasmussen recited the Pledge of Allegiance and court employee Alexandria Hankes sang the national anthem. In addition, court employee Cyndi Nguyen read a poem she drafted about the new courthouse, reflecting on the “quiet promise inside the walls” of the new building that will protect the rights of everyone. Full-size photos and captions from the dedication ceremony can also be seen on Flickr New Courthouse Improves Services to the Public The new building includes features and services the court was previously unable to provide due to space restrictions, such as appropriately sized jury assembly and deliberation rooms, courtroom and clerk's office, and other public waiting areas, attorney interview/witness waiting rooms, children's waiting room, area for security entrance screening, and in-custody holding facilities. Green Building Is Energy Efficient The new courthouse achieved LEED Silver status, as designated 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. The courthouse’s sustainability features include drought-tolerant landscaping, water-efficient irrigation and plumbing systems, and energy-efficient lighting. Statewide Court Facilities Program The Judicial Council supports the court facilities of California's Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and trial courts by providing a broad range of services. These include facility planning, design and construction, facility operations management, environmental compliance and sustainability, real estate services and asset management, and emergency planning and security coordination. Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 39 new courthouse projects and another 14 projects are underway and in various stages. Learn more about the state’s courthouse construction projects https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-chief-justice-help-dedicate-new-courthouse-santa-rosa California Chief Justice to Help Dedicate New Courthouse in Santa RosaCorren, Blaine Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:40 News Release What:  California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero will join local judges and staff to officially commemorate the completion of the new Hall of Justice in Santa Rosa. The court expects to officially open the new courthouse for business this summer. Who:  The ceremony will include remarks by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Presiding Judge Christopher Honigsberg, Judge Shelley Averill, Retired Judge Gary Nadler, Court Executive Officer Robert Oliver, and Judicial Council Administrative Director Shelley Curran When:  Friday, May 29, 2026, 1:00-3:00pm (includes ceremony, followed by refreshments and courthouse tours) Where:  New Hall of Justice for Sonoma County, Jury Assembly Room, 625 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa NOTE: The ceremony is open for the public and media to attend—email jwilcox@sonomacourt.org to RSVP. Why:  The construction project will provide a new 6-story, 15-courtroom courthouse of approximately 170,000 square feet in the city of Santa Rosa. This new facility will replace the existing court-occupied space in the Sonoma County Hall of Justice and in the attached jail or Main Adult Detention Facility (MADF) at the county administrative complex. The new building includes features and services the court was previously unable to provide due to space restrictions, such as appropriately sized jury assembly and deliberation rooms, courtroom and clerk's office, and other public waiting areas, attorney interview/witness waiting rooms, children's waiting room, area for security entrance screening (for all court users), and in-custody holding facilities. Architect:  STUDIOpractice ArchitectsConstruction Management Agency:  AECOMConstruction Manager at Risk:  Rudolph & Sletten, Inc. Since the state judicial branch took over responsibility for courthouses in 2002, the judicial branch construction program has completed 39 new courthouse projects and another 14 projects are underway and in various stages. For more information, visit the California court’s website at courts.ca.gov/facilities/sonoma-county-new-hall-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