Chief Justice says civil rights work remains unfinished; current challenges of income inequality, pretrial reform, and equal access require innovation and a human touch from a more representative judiciary.

Chief Justice Speeches

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye

Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment Work Group

Self-Help Services

Pretrial Detention Reform

Judicial Demographics

Court Innovation Grants

Language Access

Chief Justice Photo Archive

State Of The Judiciary

Chief Justice

Feature - December 20, 2018

2018 Year in Review

In 2018, the state judicial branch was instrumental in ushering in major changes to the court system and ensuring equal access to justice for all Californians.

Feature - December 20, 2019

2019 Year in Review: Judicial Council of California

The Judicial Council of California marked another successful year in its advocacy and support for programs and funding that ensure equal access to justice for all Californians.

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 - 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 - 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 - 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.

News Release - August 25, 2017

Chief Justice Issues Statement on Bail Reform

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye joins Governor Brown, Senator Hertzberg and Assemblymember Bonta in a commitment to cooperate on reforms.

Pre-Trial Detention Reform Workgroup

Joint Statement on Reforms to California's Bail System

Sacramento Bee

Criminal Justice Reform

Chief Justice

News Release - October 24, 2017

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

A workgroup established by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye to study California’s bail system issued a slate of recommendations Tuesday, saying money bail should be replaced by a risk-based assessment and supervision program that determines whether to jail defendants before trial based on their threat to public safety and their likelihood of making a court appearance.

Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup

Criminal Justice Reform

Bail

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.