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

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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.

News Release - May 2, 2019

Chief Justice Appoints New Members to Judicial Council

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye made new appointments to the Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the California courts.

News Release - November 14, 2019

Council Approves Priority List for New Courthouse Construction

At its Nov. 14 meeting, the council also adjusted the scoring process and criteria used to create the priority list.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Courthouse Construction Explained

Judicial Council

Facilities

Justice Brad Hill (right) explains how public comment helped his committee finalize the priority list for new courthouse construction projects. Judge Steven Jahr (Ret.) (left) later took the council through the reprioritization process.

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

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News Release - June 10, 2020

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

The Judicial Council voted to end the COVID-19 emergency bail schedule, as California begins a phased re-opening and courts restore services shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covid-19

Judicial Council

News Release - February 17, 2021

Judicial Council Sponsors Bill to Celebrate California Native American Day

“The Judicial Council of California and its chair, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, are committed to providing equal access and fairness in our justice system,” said Judge Marla O. Anderson.

Chief Justice

Access

Superior Courts

Judge Abby Abinanti, Yurok Tribe member and co-chair of the Judicial Council’s Tribal Court-State Court Forum.

Feature - July 12, 2021

What to Know About the Judicial Branch Budget

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget that includes $1.2 billion in new funding for the judicial branch, including restoring $200 million in previous cuts and making major investments in judicial branch programs improving access to justice.

California's Judicial Branch Budget Process

Chief Justice

Budget

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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

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.