Judicial Council to Consider Legislative Priorities for the Courts

SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its Nov. 15 business meeting will consider the types of legislation it should support to increase access to justice for court users.

This year’s recommended legislative agenda for the courts includes advocating for:

• Continued stable and reliable funding to address increased costs
   
• Maintenance and improvement of operational efficiencies
   
• Continued advancement of remote access while balancing due process
   
• Availability of verbatim records of court proceedings
   
• Increased security to safeguard personnel, the public, and court systems from physical, online, and cyber threats

Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda:

Adoption Forms in Family Law: The council will consider adopting one new form and revising six forms to simplify, clarify, and provide additional guidance necessary during the adoption process for all adopting parents, and their counsel if represented.

Court Adoption and Permanency Month: The council will acknowledge Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero’s proclamation that November is Court Adoption and Permanency Month. Her proclamation by resolution recognizes the ongoing efforts of California’s juvenile courts and their justice partners to provide children and families with access to fair, understandable judicial proceedings leading to timely, well-informed, and just permanency outcomes.

Using Plain Language for Juror Oaths: The council will consider a proposal to use understandable plain language for the oaths administered to jurors and prospective jurors to ensure they fully understand them before voir dire and prior to being seated for a jury trial.

Report on How Defendants’ Race and Ethnicity Affects Criminal Case Outcomes: The council will receive a statewide report that describes and analyzes patterns seen in criminal case dispositions of adult felony arrests by race/ethnicity and tests whether any available legal or demographic information can account for the observed patterns.

Third-Party Uses of Court Facilities: The council will consider a policy to establish guidelines for the use of court facilities by third parties, including long-term occupancies, short-term events, civics education initiatives, and commercial and vendor services.

Distinguished Service Awards: The council will honor the three recipients of its 2024 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes people and organizations for their extraordinary leadership and contributions to the administration of justice in California. This year’s recipients of the California judicial branch’s highest award are Justice William W. Bedsworth, Judge Terry B. Friedman (Ret.), and court executive Melissa Fowler-Bradley.

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.