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Statewide emergency actions and updates on county court services and operations here.

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event - July 9, 2021

Judicial Council Meeting

Update: Meeting Videocast

News Release - November 6, 2020

Judicial Council to Hear Reports on Chatbot Services, Pretrial Risk Assessment, Courthouse Building Standards

Will also review toolkit of best practices on complying with the Indian Child Welfare Act

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council Meeting

Judicial Council

News Release - November 12, 2020

Ethics Committee Issues Advice On Ex Parte Communications While Investigating Complaint Against Judge

The California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions issued a formal ethics opinion about the duties of a presiding judge or other judge with supervisory duties when investigating a complaint filed against a trial judge.

Committee On Judicial Ethics Opinions

News Release - November 13, 2020

Council Hears Reports on Use of Chatbots, Pretrial Release Tools; Approves Updated Courthouse Building Standards

Also reviewed best practices for courts to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act and proclaimed November as Court Adoption and Permanency Month

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

event - October 7, 2020

Supreme Court Oral Arguments for October 7, 2020

Counsel will appear remotely and courtroom seating for the press will be strictly limited to achieve appropriate distancing. The public will continue to have access to argument via live-streaming.

event - November 3, 2020

Supreme Court Oral Argument

Counsel will appear remotely and courtroom seating for the press will be strictly limited to achieve appropriate distancing. The public will continue to have access to argument via livestreaming on the judicial branch website: https://www.courts.ca.gov .

Feature - December 22, 2020

2020 Year in Review: Judicial Council of California

How the judicial branch kept courthouses open during a year of unprecedented challenges.

Judicial Council

News Release - January 19, 2021

Judicial Council to Consider Allocating $25 Million to Address Case Delays Due to COVID-19

Council will also receive reports on the branch’s ability-to-pay program, self-help centers, and voice-to-text language services

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

News Release - January 22, 2021

Judicial Council Allocates $25 Million to Address Case Delays Due to COVID-19

Council also approves expansion of an online pilot program enabling low-income litigants to request reductions in traffic infraction fines and fees remotely

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

Feature - May 10, 2016

Courts Use Technology to Improve Jury Service

May 9-13 is Juror Appreciation Week, but courts are making the jury system better all year with check-in kiosks, text reminders, and web-based services.

Juror Appreciation Week

Jury Service in California

Feature - April 29, 2016

Chief Justice to Create Judicial Council Budget Committee

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye this week called for the creation of a Judicial Council Budget Committee to review recommendations on statewide budget changes, the use of statewide reserves, and proposals for grant funding for judicial branch ...

Judicial Council

Budget

Feature - April 22, 2016

Making the Jury System More Efficient

The Judicial Council has revised rules of court and forms to help implement a statute that expands the use of expedited jury trials in California, effective July 1.

Latest Council Action on Expedited Jury Trials

Jury Service in California

Jury Duty

Judicial Council