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

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News Release - July 15, 2022

Chief Justice Appoints New Judicial Council Members

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye appointed one new voting member and four new advisory (non-voting) members to the Judicial Council. She also reappointed three voting members.

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Members

Judicial Council

News Release - May 12, 2020

Judicial Council Launches Working Group to Aid Courts in Pandemic Recovery

The Judicial Council of California has launched the Pandemic Continuity of Operations Working Group, which will quickly collect best practices and publish a framework to help the state's 58 superior courts restore interrupted services in the wake of the...

Covid-19

Judicial Council

Martin Hoshino

News Release - March 12, 2021

Chief Justice Recognizes Courts for Remaining Open and Adapting to COVID-19

Reviews how courts managed to stay open safely during the pandemic, leveraged technology, and commits to consider lessons learned to enhance access and equity

Transcript of Chief Justice remarks from meeting

Judicial Council Meeting

News Release - April 6, 2020

Judicial Council Adopts New Rules to Lower Jail Population, Suspend Evictions and Foreclosures

At its meeting today, the council approved 11 temporary emergency rules, including setting bail statewide at $0 for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies and staying eviction and foreclosure proceedings.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Emergency rules approved

Judicial Council

News Release - January 21, 2022

Council Approves Legislative Priorities for the Courts

Legislative agenda includes advocating for stable and reliable funding, securing more judgeships, and implementing pretrial detention reform

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

Legislation

Photo of Capitol building in Sacramento and words "2022 Legislative Priorities" and "January 21, 2022 Judicial Council Business Meeting"

Feature - March 18, 2019

2011–2019: The Judicial Branch Under the Leadership of Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye

As the Chief Justice prepares to address the Legislature on the 2019 State of the Judiciary, a look back at some key judicial branch milestones.

News Release - January 14, 2022

Council to Consider Legislative Priorities for the Courts

This year’s recommended legislative agenda includes advocating for stable and reliable funding, securing more judgeships, and implementing pretrial detention reform.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

Judicial Council Meeting

Legislation

Blue on white seal of the judicial council

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.

News Release - September 21, 2018

Council Hears Plan for Implementing New Law that Replaces Money Bail with Risk Assessment

At its Sept. 20–21 business meeting, the Judicial Council heard a report on how the judicial branch will help implement Senate Bill 10, recently signed legislation that will eliminate money bail for criminal defendants.

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Timeline: Judicial Branch Bail Reform

Judicial Council

Criminal Justice Reform

News Release - November 17, 2017

Council Hears Why Money Bail Should End

At its meeting this week, the Judicial Council heard from the Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup, approved legislative priorities, received an update on court innovation grants, and more.

Meeting agenda, reports, video

Judicial Council

Criminal Justice Reform

Judge Lisa Rodriguez (left) and Judge Brian Back, co-chairs of the Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup.

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.