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Feature - June 11, 2019

Record Breaking Year for Civic Learning Awards

A record 92 public schools throughout California were recognized by the Civic Learning Awards. Now in it's seventh year, the awards recognize public schools for their civic education achievements.

Civic Learning Awards

Civic Learning Initiative

Court Of Appeal

Chief Justice

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 - April 29, 2016

Justice Judith McConnell Honored for Work in Civic Education

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has selected Administrative Presiding Justice Judith D. McConnell for the Chief Justice's Award for Exemplary Service and Leadership for her outstanding work in civics.

Judith McConnell, 4th District Court of Appeal

Award for Exemplary Service and Leadership

Chief Justice

Civics

Justice Judith McConnell invites students to take the role of judge during a program to teach kids about the judicial branch at the California Lawyers Association annual conference.

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

Feature - April 15, 2016

Chief Justice Visits Award-Winning Schools

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye recently visited three schools earning a Civic Learning Award of Excellence—the highest honor —this year: Kumeyaay Elementary in San Diego County, Bellflower High School in Los Angeles County, and Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Charter in Sacramento County.

More about Civic Learning Awards

Civics

Chief Justice

Feature - May 23, 2018

Courts Celebrate Jurors

On May 14-18, courts celebrated the single largest cohort of court users in the nation—citizens appearing for jury duty.

Peer Courts = Juror Training

Courts Use Technology to Improve Jury Service

One Day or One Trial

Jury Duty

Feature - May 14, 2018

Peer Courts = Juror Training

The Constitutional promise of being tried by a “jury of your peers” is taken to the extreme in peer courts, an alternative approach to the traditional juvenile justice system where teens judge other teens.

Jury Appreciation Week

Feature - May 10, 2017

Plain-Language Jury Instructions Work

A recent study showed that test-jurors understood plain-language instructions better and reached a correct verdict significantly more often.

Jury Instructions Study

Plain-Language Jury Instructions

Jury Service in California

Jury Duty

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 - 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

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 - 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.