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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.

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.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget that includes $1.2 billion in new funding for the judicial branch, including restoring $200 million in previous cuts and making major investments in judicial branch programs improving access to justice.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup and retired Judge Richard Couzens honored for their work that led to a new law that replaces money bail with risk assessment.

At its January 17 meeting, the council received a final report on a three-year grant supporting 39 collaborative court and pretrial programs that tracked retention, recidivism, and failure to appear rates for participating defendants.

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