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

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Feature - June 30, 2020

What to Know About the Judicial Branch Budget

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.

Budget

Dependency

Interpreter

Language Access

Collaborative Courts

Self-Help

exterior of capital building in Sacramento

Feature - March 28, 2016

Proposition 47 in the Courts: Workload Impacts

California superior courts received more than 200,000 petitions for resentencing or applications for reclassification during the first 13 months after voters approved Proposition 47.

Judicial Council Staff Report: Prop 47 First Year Impacts

Prop 47 Filings: Detailed Data

More About Prop 47

Criminal Justice Reform

Feature - December 18, 2018

Courts Help Put New Laws into Effect

From erasing old marijuana convictions to helping courts weather natural disasters, track the new laws that will change California courts in 2019.

Court Related Legislation

Criminal Justice Reform

Feature - September 18, 2018

"You either self-destruct or you become a champion for others."

A Q&A with Judge Donna Groman, a 2018 Distinguished Service Award recipient, who overcame a tough childhood to become an advocate for California's at-risk youth.

Los Angeles

Criminal Justice Reform

Keeping Kids In School

Feature - August 21, 2018

Pretrial reform moves to Governor's office

Today the California State Legislature sent an historic bill to the Governor that will fundamentally change California's pretrial release and detention system.

Senate Bill 10

Pretrial Detention Reform in California

Criminal Justice Reform

Pretrial

Feature - June 8, 2018

Court Interpreters’ Conference Brings a Host of Languages to the Judicial Council

Court interpreters from around the world convened at the Judicial Council June 5 for the start of a four-day conference on the challenges and solutions in legal interpreting in the U.S. and Europe.

Language Access

Court Interpreters Program

Interpreter

Language Access

Feature - January 3, 2018

Courts Help Put New Laws into Effect

In 2018, a number of new laws were created in the hope of expanding the rights of Californians through the court system.

Judicial Council

Criminal Justice Reform

Feature - August 28, 2017

Courts Improving Service for Limited-English Speakers

Did you know that Spanish is the most requested language by limited-English-proficiency court users?

Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force

Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts

Language Access

Interpreter

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 - June 15, 2016

Reentry Courts Focus on Parolees at Highest Risk

With California’s growing focus on criminal justice reform comes expanding use of reentry courts as an alternative to cycles of re-incarceration. Reentry courts, a type of collaborative justice court for individuals released from jail or prison, offer...

Reentry Courts

Parolee Reentry Court Program Evaluation

Reentry Court Roundtable Materials

Collaborative Courts

Criminal Justice Reform

Feature - December 20, 2021

2021 Year in Review: Judicial Council of California

In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to challenge the state’s ability to ensure access to justice for the citizens of California. But like the previous year, California’s Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and the Judicial Council supported the courts as they remained flexible and innovative to ensure the justice system was open and vital services remained accessible to the public.