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.

Innovations

Traffic Amnesty

Facilities

Language Access

Civics

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 - 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

Feature - November 19, 2019

In the News: Meet the Chief Justice

KRON4 journalist Pam Moore takes a look at the Chief Justice's tenure leading California's judicial branch.

Chief Justice

Pretrial

Immigration

News Release - April 15, 2016

Council Facilitates Juvenile System Reforms

SAN FRANCISCO—At its public meeting on April 15, the Judicial Council changed court rules and forms to implement reforms targeting those coming to family and juvenile courts. One action dealt with the implementation of a new law that changes the...

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting Information

Civics

Pretrial

Judicial Council

High school senior Christian Nuñez, who didn’t know English when he emigrated to the United States at age 14, spoke about learning about the Bill of Rights on the first day of his U.S. history class. View on YouTube

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 - 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 - January 15, 2019

Chief Justice Names Group to Review Pretrial Reform Efforts in California

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Tuesday announced a new work group to review progress on reforms to California’s system of pretrial detention and identify next steps to continue work on the issue.

Judicial Council Meeting Video with Agenda

Pretrial

Bail

Criminal Justice Reform

News Release - October 28, 2016

Chief Justice Appoints Working Group to Recommend Changes in Pretrial Detention

SAN DIEGO--Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye announced today the formation of a working group to study and recommend ways to make the bail system fair while protecting the public and ensuring court appearances of defendants.

Pre-Trial Detention Reform Workgroup

Ending Debtors' Prison

Judicial Council Meeting on Pre-Trial Risk Assessment

Fines And Fees

Pretrial

Feature - November 1, 2016