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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

Jury Innovations

Jury Duty

Innovations

Kern

Mendocino

Orange

San Bernardino

Judicial Council

Self-service kiosks similar to this one in Mendocino County help expedite the juror check-in process.

Feature - August 31, 2017

Courts Adapt to Tech-Savvy Users

More than 150 judges, court managers and IT professionals came together in Sacramento last week to find new ways to harness technologies to offer better service and access to the public.

Feature - June 9, 2017

Courts Offer Self-Help Services Remotely

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

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.

News Release - May 14, 2019

Self-Help Resources Expand to Courts of Appeal

Self-represented litigants who seek help with appealing their case now have access to a new online resource center.

Fifth District Court of Appeal

Appellate Self-Help Resource Center

California Courts Self-Help Center

Fifth Appellate District

Innovations

Technology

Self-Help

A new online resource center for self-represented litigants who seek help with the appeals process.

News Release - April 26, 2017

Chief Justice Receives Report from Futures Commission

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye receives report from the Future of California's Court System, outlining 13 recommendations to increase judicial branch efficiency and public access to justice.

View Report (PDF)

Commission on the Future of California's Court System

Futures Commission

Innovations

News Release - January 17, 2020

Report Finding: Collaborative Court and Pretrial Programs Work

At its January 17 meeting, the council received a final report on a three-year grant supporting 39 collaborative court and pretrial programs that tracked retention, recidivism, and failure to appear rates for participating defendants.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Criminal Justice Reform

Innovations

Council members receive the final report on the Recidivism Reduction Grant Program, a three-year grant supporting and evaluating 39 collaborative court and pretrial programs.

News Release - August 25, 2016

Judicial Council Approves Process for Awarding $25 Million for Court Innovations

At its meeting today, the Judicial Council adopted a process to award $25 million in grant funding to promote innovative and efficient programs in the courts.

Aug 25 Council Meeting Webpage

News Release - August 16, 2021

Report: Remote Proceedings Increased Access for Court Users During Pandemic

Chief Justice’s Workgroup on Post-Pandemic Initiatives also finds remote hearings spurred case resolutions in juvenile cases, child support hearings.

Chief Justice

Access

remote access

Feature - December 20, 2021

Courts Help Put New Laws into Effect

On Jan. 1, hundreds of new laws go into effect, including many that will protect the public and improve access to justice for all Californians. Here are a few worth noting.

Access

Jury Duty

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.