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Feature - August 6, 2020

Courts use Remote Technology for Community Outreach

Since the COVID-19 state of emergency issued in mid-March, courts around the state have been holding more court hearings remotely. Now courts are looking for ways to expand remote technology to support community engagement.

Civics

San Diego

San Bernardino

Outreach

Feature - August 2, 2018

Restorative Justice: Healing California’s Youth

Juvenile courts in California are uniquely responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of young offenders. But increasingly, courts and schools are recognizing the value of keeping students in classrooms and out of the court system altogether.

Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court

Center for Justice & Reconciliation

Indigenous Justice

Report: Impacts of Punitive Discipline

Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs in CA

Keeping Kids In School

Civics

Feature - May 14, 2018

Peer Courts = Juror Training

The Constitutional promise of being tried by a “jury of your peers” is taken to the extreme in peer courts, an alternative approach to the traditional juvenile justice system where teens judge other teens.

Jury Appreciation Week

News Release - March 6, 2018

Survey: California Bench Continues to Grow More Diverse

Women now represent 35 percent of superior court judges, compared to 27 percent in 2006, continuing a steady upward trend.

Judicial demographic data

Judiciary

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.

Feature - July 19, 2016

State Approves More Civic Learning

After more than a dozen years of striving for a more robust civics curriculum in California’s public schools, advocates for civic learning are about to get their wish.

Power of Democracy Steering Committee

CA History Social Science Framework

State Board of Education

CA English Language Arts Framework

Civics

Chief Justice

News Release - March 5, 2019

Survey: California Bench Continues to Grow More Diverse

For the 13th straight year, data show a steady increase in women and non-white justices and judges.

Judicial demographic data

Judiciary

Appointments

Last August, Dorothy Kim became the first Korean-American justice in the history of the California Courts of Appeal, and Halim Dhanidina became the first Muslim and South Asian-American justice in California.

News Release - March 5, 2020

Civic Learning Awards Honor 75 California Schools

Seventy-five public schools were honored with Civic Learning Awards, which are co-sponsored by the Chief Justice and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Civic Learning Initiative

Chief Justice

Civics

News Release - March 2, 2020

Survey: California Bench Growing More Diverse

New report shows for the 14th straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse.

Judicial demographic data

Judiciary

Appointments

Governor Newsom last year appointed Teri L. Jackson to the First District Court of Appeal, that court's first African-American female justice.

News Release - September 22, 2016

Chief Justice Invites Civic Learning Award Applications

Applications are now available online for the 2016-17 Civic Learning Awards.

Civic Learning Awards

California Department of Education

Civics

Chief Justice

News Release - March 1, 2022

Survey Results: California Bench Growing More Diverse

Data show steady increase over the last 16 years in the number of women, and justices and judges of color

Judicial demographic data

Judicial Diversity Toolkit

Judicial Mentorship Program

Diversity

Appointments

Judiciary

Chart showing demographics of California justices and judges over the last 16 years

Feature - October 21, 2021

Visits to Local Classrooms Bring Lessons on the Constitution

To commemorate Constitution Day, California judges visited classrooms and libraries statewide to deliver lessons on the three branches of government and the role of the courts. The effort supports a year-round drive to foster a better understanding of the judicial branch among students and teachers. 