COVID News Center:

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

Search results

Feature - April 12, 2018

Wildfire Litigation Spotlights Civil Case Coordination

In the wake of wildfires that devastated parts of California’s Wine Country last October, nearly 100 civil lawsuits were filed against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. alleging the utility had a role in sparking the blaze. The answer to this influx was civil case coordination.

Civil

Ventura

San Francisco

Napa

Sonoma

Los Angeles

Judicial Council

A member of the California National Guard searches the wreckage in Santa Rosa (Courtesy: California National Guard).

News Release - July 27, 2017

Study: Free legal services help settle high-stakes civil cases

A pilot program that funds free legal services for low-income Californians facing critical civil cases drastically increased the likelihood of settlement, improved the longevity of court orders, and reduced court costs, a new study shows.

Judicial Council Report to the Legislature: Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act

Shriver Custody Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Housing Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Guardianship Project Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

News Release - November 30, 2018

Council Adopts New Rules on Appointed Counsel in Death Penalty Review Cases

The Judicial Council at its November 29–30 meeting approved changes to rules of court that govern appointed counsel in death penalty appeals and habeas corpus proceedings.

News Release - May 18, 2017

Chief Justice directs action on traffic, civil cases, self-represented litigants, and technology

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye directs immediate council action on four recommendations from the Futures Commission.

Futures Commission Report

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye

Judicial Council of California

Chief Justice's Letter to Judicial Council Internal Chairs and Administrative D…

Criminal Justice Reform

News Release - October 1, 2021

Council Supports Efforts to Continue Modernizing Courts

Funding for remote video, online services, and other technology projects improves services and helps limit the impact of pandemic on court users

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

Technology

Judicial Council members attending Oct. 1 meeting remotely - new members raise their hands to take the oath of service

Feature - December 20, 2019

Courts Help Put New Laws into Effect

Keeping guns from dangerous people, restricting courthouse immigration arrests, and limiting "deepfake" election videos are just a few of the new laws that will change California in 2020.

Criminal Justice Reform

Feature - March 28, 2022

Going Online to Settle Small Claims a Big Hit

Los Angeles County's online tool is just one of the programs in the state helping parties settle their cases without a trip to the courthouse.

remote access

Innovations

Technology

Graphic showing online dispute resolution

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 - February 24, 2020

Innovation in a Click (or Tap)

Court of Appeal in Fresno spearheads projects to modernize and expand access to justice for Californians appealing their cases.

Court Innovation Grant

Fifth Appellate District

Technology

Ming Chin

Feature - August 30, 2017

California Supreme Court Helps to Shed Light on Legal System

Webcasts of the court’s oral arguments have been accessed more than 44,000 times since it began streaming them last year.

California Supreme Court

Oral Argument Webcasts

Technology

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.

Feature - June 28, 2019

5 Things to Know about the Judicial Branch Budget

Governor Gavin Newsom signed his first state budget on Thursday, which includes nearly $470 million in new judicial branch funding to continue the courts’ steady recovery after years of deep cuts.

Chief Justice Releases Statement on Judicial Branch Budget for 2019-20