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

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News Release - July 27, 2017

Study: Free legal services help settle high-stakes civil cases

A pilot program that funds free legal services for low-income Californians facing critical civil cases drastically increased the likelihood of settlement, improved the longevity of court orders, and reduced court costs, a new study shows.

Judicial Council Report to the Legislature: Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act

Shriver Custody Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Housing Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Guardianship Project Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Civil

Judicial Council

Yolo

Kern

News Release - August 9, 2019

Judicial Council Funds 16 Pretrial Pilot Programs

The Judicial Council on Friday awarded millions of dollars to fund pretrial projects in 16 trial courts throughout the state.

Fact Sheet: Pretrial Pilot Program Highlights

Judicial Council Report

Archived Meeting Webcast

Criminal Justice Reform

News Release - March 16, 2020

Supreme Court of California Amends Oral Argument Procedures in Response to COVID-19

The California Supreme Court announced it has amended oral argument procedures to protect the health and safety of the public.

California Supreme Court

News Release - March 18, 2020

California Supreme Court Expands Electronic Filing in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Supreme Court of California on Wednesday expanded mandatory electronic filing of all documents, including briefs, for review by the court.

E-Filing

California Supreme Court

News Release - March 20, 2020

Supreme Court Extends Deadlines in Response to COVID-19

The order applies only to California Supreme Court proceedings with deadlines from March 20 through April 20.

California Supreme Court

Feature - April 6, 2020

California Chief Justice: "No need and no right will be overlooked"

Read remarks from Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

Chief Justice

Access

News Release - April 27, 2020

California Supreme Court Orders Bar Exam Delayed, Administered Online

The California Supreme Court ordered the July California Bar Exam be postponed to Sept. 9-10, and directed the State Bar to make every effort to administer the test online with remote or electronic proctoring.

Bar Exam

California Supreme Court

Access

News Release - April 29, 2020

California Chief Justice Extends Criminal Trial Deadlines

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to hold criminal trials has been extended a total of 90 days.

News Release - June 8, 2020

Judicial Council, Chief Justice Consider Ending Some Emergency Measures as California and Courts Expand Reopening

The Judicial Council of California will consider ending three temporary emergency rules governing evictions, judicial foreclosures and an emergency bail schedule, as California begins a phased re-opening and courts restore services shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Justice

Access

Feature - July 28, 2020

Video: Colleagues Salute Retiring California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin

Fellow California Supreme Court justices paid tribute to Justice Chin before his last oral argument, which was held by videoconference.

California Supreme Court

justice ming chin standing in audience holding microphone speaking

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.