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Feature - October 21, 2021

Visits to Local Classrooms Bring Lessons on the Constitution

To commemorate Constitution Day, California judges visited classrooms and libraries statewide to deliver lessons on the three branches of government and the role of the courts. The effort supports a year-round drive to foster a better understanding of the judicial branch among students and teachers. 

Civics

San Bernardino

Monterey

Santa Clara

Chief Justice

judge and teacher in classroom with group of students in classroom

Feature - October 8, 2021

Chief Justice Invites Civic Learning Award Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Civic Learning Awards, which recognize programs in public schools that engage youth in civics learning.

Power of Democracy

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - July 6, 2021

Profile: Turlock Government Teacher Named Champion of Civics

Isaac Farhadian's efforts to engage students in civics in-person and virtually at his former high school earned him a 2021 Champion of Civics award, co-sponsored by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

www.powerofdemocracy.org

Awards

Civics

Power Of Democracy

Feature - June 11, 2021

Profile: Central California Youth Organizer Named Champion of Civics

Meet Youth Organizer Gabriela Manzo, one of five Champions of Civics honored this year by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Ciclovía Salinas: Youth Empowerment in Salinas, California

La Cosecha Looks to Initiate Change

Civics

Power Of Democracy

Awards

This image shows Gabriela Manzo, a youth organizer in Salinas recognized as a Champion of Civics.

Feature - October 10, 2019

Judicial Council Presents 2019 Awards of Distinction and Service

The Judicial Council presented the 2019 Distinguished Service Awards on Nov 14 in San Francisco. The prestigious Aranda Access to Justice Award was also presented in partnership with the California Lawyers Association and the California Judges Association.

Distinguished Service Awards

Aranda Access to Justice Award

Judge Chittick's Veterans Treatment Court

Feature - March 18, 2019

2011–2019: The Judicial Branch Under the Leadership of Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye

As the Chief Justice prepares to address the Legislature on the 2019 State of the Judiciary, a look back at some key judicial branch milestones.

Feature - January 4, 2019

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye Speaks Out Against Threats to the Judiciary

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye participated in a panel discussion called, "Undermining the Courts and Media: The Consequences of American Democracy" at the National Judicial College Judges and Journalists Symposium.

“Undermining the Courts and the Media: The Consequences for American Democracy”

In 2018, a Spate of Partisan Attacks on State Courts

Civics

Judiciary

Chief Justice

Feature - August 10, 2017

Civics Movement Gains Ground

Inspired by the Chief Justice, 13 California counties launch efforts to boost civic education.

Feature - May 4, 2017

Video: Civic Learning and the Judicial Branch

In this video feature, the Chief Justice explains the judiciary's role in civic education and why her Civic Learning Initiative is so important to her as leader of the state judicial branch.

Civics

Chief justice and justice mcconnell standing in front of mural inside a classroom

Feature - February 3, 2017

More Civic Learning to Reach California Schools

With an assist from the Chief Justice's initiative on civic learning, the California Department of Education has started rolling out a new history-social science framework that emphasizes civic education.

Civic Learning Initiative

Power of Democracy

History-Social Science Framework

Chief Justice

Civics

Feature - December 15, 2016

Creating Access: The Judicial Council’s 2016 Annual Review

In 2016, the Judicial Council continued focusing on efforts to better stabilize branch funding, improve branch governance, and to address concerns about fairness raised by the public, our sister branches of government, and stakeholders throughout the state.

Feature - July 19, 2016

State Approves More Civic Learning

After more than a dozen years of striving for a more robust civics curriculum in California’s public schools, advocates for civic learning are about to get their wish.

Power of Democracy Steering Committee

CA History Social Science Framework

State Board of Education

CA English Language Arts Framework

Civics

Chief Justice