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

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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 - September 4, 2018

California Courts Need More Interpreters

Find out how the judicial branch is recruiting bilingual professionals at schools, cultural festivals, and interpreting events in other industries.

How to Become a Court Interpreter

Court Interpreters Program

Language Access Metrics Report

Language Access

Interpreter

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

Feature - August 28, 2017

Courts Improving Service for Limited-English Speakers

Did you know that Spanish is the most requested language by limited-English-proficiency court users?

Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force

Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts

Language Access

Interpreter

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 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.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts

Interpreter

Language Access

Judicial Council

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 - 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.

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

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. 