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

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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 - 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

Feature - October 22, 2021

Chief Justice Speaks on Emergency Orders, Remote Services, Diversifying California Judiciary

On October 21, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) hosted a virtual Conversation with Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakakuye.

Chief Justice

Covid-19

Judiciary

article banner with photo of chief justice in round frame

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

News Release - September 20, 2021

Study shows remote proceedings increase efficiency, access

Remote proceedings have improved case clearance rates and cleared previous case backlogs in some areas

Chief Justice

Access

Feature - March 16, 2022

Chief Justice Delivers State of the Judiciary Address

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye released today her annual State of the Judiciary address, recorded prior to the first in-person Judicial Council meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Chief Justice

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.