COVID News Center:

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

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Feature - November 1, 2019

Tuesday Nov. 5: Courts Impacted by Outages and Wildfire Resume Services

Information on courts statewide reporting full and partial closures due to wildfires and power outages.

Active Fires Map

Shasta

Trinity

Lake

Sonoma

Feature - May 30, 2018

Can We Text You?

As Californians do more business on mobile devices, the state’s courts are joining in on the trend, from texting court payments to receiving jury service updates.

Feature - August 10, 2017

Civics Movement Gains Ground

Inspired by the Chief Justice, 13 California counties launch efforts to boost civic education.

Feature - June 9, 2017

Courts Offer Self-Help Services Remotely

Videoconference technology helps deliver self-help services remotely and increases a court's outreach.

News Release - March 1, 2021

Survey Results: California Bench Growing More Diverse

Data show steady increase in women, and justices and judges of color over 15 years

Diversity

Feature - March 5, 2021

Mentoring Program Aims to Increase Diversity of Judge Applicants

Los Angeles County judges mentor attorneys through the process of applying for a judgeship, part of an effort to grow and diversify the bench locally and throughout California.

Survey Results: California Bench Growing More Diverse

Diversity

colorful board with text that says mentoring

News Release - October 4, 2018

Supreme Court Names New Director of Civil Central Staff

San Francisco—The California Supreme Court has named Lisa Ferguson Walker as the new director of its 15-member Civil Central Staff, effective October 1, 2018. Walker replaces Emily Graham, the director for the past ten years, who recently retired after serving the court for 29 years. Walker is the first African American attorney to serve as a director for the California Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Website

Diversity

News Release - March 16, 2017

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Objects to Immigration Enforcement Tactics at California Courthouses

Dear Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Kelly:

As Chief Justice of California responsible for the safe and fair delivery of justice in our state, I am deeply concerned about reports from some of our trial courts that immigration agents appear to be stalking undocumented immigrants in our courthouses to make arrests.

Our courthouses serve as a vital forum for ensuring access to justice and protecting public safety. Courthouses should not be used as bait in the necessary enforcement of our country’s immigration laws.

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Bio

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye's Letter

Diversity

Judiciary

News Release - September 14, 2016

Jorge E. Navarrete Appointed First Latino Court Administrator and Clerk of the Supreme Court

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye today announced, on behalf of the Supreme Court of California, the appointment of Mr. Jorge E. Navarrete, the court’s current Assistant Clerk Administrator, as the twenty-seventh Court Administrator and Clerk of the Supreme Court. The appointment will take effect Saturday, October 1, 2016.

Supreme Court of California

Diversity

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.