COVID News Center:

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

Search results

News Release - December 7, 2020

California Chief Justice Issues Advisory to Courts Amid COVID-19 Surge

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued an advisory to leaders of California’s 58 county superior courts with guidance to continue to seek emergency orders if needed based on local conditions and ability to hold remote hearings or provide social distancing under state and local health rules.

News Release - January 8, 2021

California Chief Justice Releases Statement on Governor's Budget Proposal

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Friday issued the following statement on the Governor’s budget proposal for the judicial branch:

Chief Justice

Budget

News Release - March 26, 2020

Judicial Council to Hold Special Meeting Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Emergency meeting of court and branch leaders from around the state will focus on measures to ensure California courts can meet stringent health directives while also providing due process and access to justice.

News Release - March 23, 2020

Chief Justice Issues Statewide Order Suspending Jury Trials

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued a statewide order suspending all jury trials in California's superior courts for 60 days and allowing courts to immediately adopt new rules to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Justice

Covid-19

News Release - March 3, 2020

(UPDATE: Sessions Postponed) Judicial Workgroup Seeks Public Comment on Risk Assessment Tools

The Pretrial Reform and Operations Workgroup will host public comment sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco on risk assessment tools as one component in pretrial decisionmaking.

Public Comment Procedures

Pretrial

Los Angeles

News Release - November 6, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions: Pretrial Detention Reform

Learn more about the Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup's recommendations, the California bail system and other reform efforts nationwide.

Chief Justice Workgroup: Money Bail is “Unsafe and Unfair”

Full Report: Pretrial Detention Reform

Bail

Criminal Justice Reform

Chief Justice

News Release - August 9, 2019

Judicial Council Funds 16 Pretrial Pilot Programs

The Judicial Council on Friday awarded millions of dollars to fund pretrial projects in 16 trial courts throughout the state.

Fact Sheet: Pretrial Pilot Program Highlights

Judicial Council Report

Archived Meeting Webcast

Criminal Justice Reform

News Release - August 28, 2018

Governor Signs Legislation to Revamp California's Bail System, Protect Public Safety

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye's statement on signing of SB10.

Bail

Chief Justice

Martin Hoshino

News Release - March 23, 2022

Report Cites Ways to Help Increase the Diversity of Jurors

Strategies include providing court users with remote options at various stages of jury service

Ad Hoc Workgroup on Post-Pandemic Initiatives

Interim Report: Improving the Juror Experience

Jury Duty

remote access

Covid-19

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

Access