https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/remote-proceedings-have-enhanced-californias-courtrooms-and-improved-court-participation Remote Proceedings Have Enhanced California’s Courtrooms and Improved Court Participationelaine.chan Wed, 04/09/2025 - 09:19 Feature Over the past five years, remote proceedings have become an integral part of ensuring that courts are accessible to all Californians. Thousands of court hearings occur remotely each day, saving Californians millions of trips to courthouses each year. Litigants and Court Staff Give Remote Proceedings High RatingsCourts’ use of remote proceedings has received an overwhelmingly positive response from court users and staff. According to the most recent Judicial Council report to the Legislature, Report on the Use of Remote Technology in Civil Actions by the Trial Courts, 57 courts throughout the state reported using remote technology from Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024. During that period, a total of 1,146,184 remote civil proceedings took place statewide. These included civil proceedings such as civil unlimited (46%), family law (19%), probate (13%), civil limited (9%), juvenile dependency (6%), juvenile delinquency (4%), small claims (2%), and civil mental health (1%). In a survey of remote proceedings participants, more than 90% of them had an overall positive experience and fewer than 2% reported experiencing an audio or visual technical issue. Remote Proceedings Can Benefit Vulnerable Parties Vulnerable court users, such as victims of domestic violence and elder abuse, have reported they had less anxiety and stress by not having to appear in court with the perpetrator. “In many cases, appearing remotely reduces the fear of appearing in a courtroom, especially for cases involving domestic violence and elder abuse,” said Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Ann Moorman during a 2024 Judicial Council meeting. “Remote proceedings do, and can, reduce further traumatization for participants and the potential for conflict in the courtroom.” Watch Judge Moorman’s presentation from the January 2024 Judicial Council business meeting: https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/council-launches-working-group-study-remote-proceedings-civil-cases Council Launches Working Group to Study Remote Proceedings in Civil CasesCorren, Blaine Tue, 06/21/2022 - 12:35 News Release Updated June 2022:  Courts Using Data to Improve Services A new Judicial Council working group will propose statewide guidelines for conducting judicial proceedings remotely in civil cases, while providing equal and fair access to the court system for the public. “Providing access to the courts through remote technology increases access to justice as many of our court users may have to miss work or travel long distances to make court appearances,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye, who chairs the council and appointed the working group members. “Remote technology should not replace all in-person court hearings, but Californians should have the freedom of choice to conduct their business remotely whenever appropriate.” Working Group Members and Charge The council’s diverse, 25-member Code of Civil Procedure Section 367.9 Working Group consists of judges, court executive officers, attorneys, court reporters, and interpreters. The working group will consider such issues as: Protocols for ensuring court users fully understand their options for accessing the court remotely; Case types and proceedings for which remote appearances are appropriate; Availability and use of interpreters and court reporters; and Procedural and technical guidelines for using remote technology. Working Group to Analyze Data Collected on Remote ProceedingsAssembly Bill 177 led to the enactment of section 367.9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, calling for the creation of the working group. That bill also created section 367.8 of the code, which requires the Judicial Council to collect data on the number of civil proceedings conducted remotely, technology issues, and court users’ and court employees’ experience using remote technology. The working group will use this data to help create its proposed recommendations, which are due to the Legislature and the Governor by January 1, 2023.