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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.

Judicial Council

Language Access

empty boardroom filled with tech

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

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

Judicial Council members participate remotely at the January 22, 2021 business meeting.

News Release - June 3, 2020

Council Working Group Releases Pandemic Recovery Resource Guide for Courts

Guide addresses more than 200 questions and topics related to facilities, personnel, jury management, case management and processing, and communications.

Judicial Council

Superior Courts

Recommendations for displays like this one in Napa County are outlined in a resource guide for courts created by a Judicial Council workgroup.

News Release - May 15, 2020

Judicial Council Hears Report on State Budget Proposal’s Impact to Judicial Branch

At its May 15 teleconference meeting, the council received reports on potential reductions to judicial branch funding, as well as planning efforts to restore court access and services restricted due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Archived audiocast

Judicial Council

Feature - October 4, 2019

Restorative Justice Programs Offer Veterans a New Mission

Veterans surrender to a personal mission thanks to a growing number of Veterans Courts.

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Council Approves $23.5 Million in Grant Funding for Court Innovations

Collaborative Courts

Court Innovation Grant

San Luis Obispo County Judge John Trice, who retired in 2017, calls establishing a local Veterans Treatment Court one of his greatest achievements.

News Release - September 24, 2019

Council Approves New Formula for Ranking Judicial Need

The formula forms the basis of the Judicial Needs Assessment, which estimates California needs an additional 173 judges.

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Judicial Council

Judicial Council

News Release - May 17, 2019

Council Hears How Increase in Funding Helped Courts Expand Services for the Public

The Judicial Council received a report on how the state’s trial courts used additional funding included in this fiscal year’s judicial branch budget to expand hours, reopen closed locations, and invest in new technology to increase access to justice for the public.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judge Michael Begert (center), coordinator Allyson West (left), and Army veteran Darian Evans presented to the council on San Francisco's Veterans Justice Court.

News Release - March 15, 2019

Report: Video Remote Interpreting Effective for Court Users with Limited English Skills

At its March 15 business meeting, the Judicial Council approved recommendations for updating guidelines for video remote interpreting (VRI) and voted to have its staff coordinate a new VRI program for the judicial branch.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts

Language Access

Judicial Council

News Release - July 20, 2018

Council Allocates Additional $48 Million to Most Underfunded Trial Courts

At its July 20 business meeting, the Judicial Council approved funding for the state’s 58 trial courts, including $47.8 million in new funding to boost the budgets of the neediest courts.

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Judicial Council

Webcast Archive

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Feature - June 27, 2018

What's in the Judicial Branch Budget?

Governor Jerry Brown signed a state budget on Wednesday that will help restore court services slashed during the recession, fund courthouse projects, and improve access to justice for millions of Californians.

Language Access

Traffic Amnesty

Feature - March 7, 2018

Millions of Californians Without Lawyers Find Help in the Courts

Facing growing numbers of civil and family law litigants representing themselves, courts are expanding services offered through “self-help” centers.

Judicial Council

News Release - January 12, 2018

Council Briefed on Governor’s Proposal to Increase Funding for Trial Courts and Court Construction

The proposal provides $4.2 billion for the judicial branch, which includes $150 million in new funding for local trial court operations and a commitment to fund construction for ten new courthouse projects.

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Meeting agenda, reports, video

Judicial Council

Judicial Council

Jake Chatters, court executive officer in Placer County, tells the council about changes to the definitions of the data collected from the trial courts that helps the council calculate the workload-based funding need for each court.

Summary