Latest information on courts statewide reporting full and partial closures due to wildfires.

Audio and video hearings now available in 250 criminal courtrooms.

Since the COVID-19 state of emergency issued in mid-March, courts around the state have been holding more court hearings remotely. Now courts are looking for ways to expand remote technology to support community engagement. 

Judges in the (Virtual) Classroom
In San Diego, judges created an alternative to their in-person "Judges in the Classroom" program. In May and June, more than 580 students participated in 18 virtual sessions through the program.

Courts have launched new ways to provide safe access to justice—proceedings streamed live online, remote hearings for litigants, live chat help, remote adoptions & more.

At least 31 California counties home to 80 percent of the state's residents have kept COVID-19 emergency bail schedules to help curb the spread of the virus in jails and surrounding communities during the pandemic, according to data from superior courts.

The budget cuts $200 million from the state court system, though $150 million could be restored if the federal government sends additional aid by the fall.

"We in the judicial branch will do our best to serve the public in these unprecedented times of a global pandemic and recession," Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said.

Guide addresses more than 200 questions and topics related to facilities, personnel, jury management, case management and processing, and communications.

See Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s advisory to all county superior court presiding judges on Friday.

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued guidance to California trial courts seeking emergency orders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.