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

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News Release - December 11, 2015

Courts Improving Access for Mentally Ill

SAN FRANCISCO— A task force appointed three years ago by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye to improve case processing and outcomes for court users with mental illness was sunsetted by the Judicial Council with an assurance that the council will carry on its work with the help of other advisory committees.

Judicial Council

News Release - July 27, 2017

Study: Free legal services help settle high-stakes civil cases

A pilot program that funds free legal services for low-income Californians facing critical civil cases drastically increased the likelihood of settlement, improved the longevity of court orders, and reduced court costs, a new study shows.

Related:

Judicial Council Report to the Legislature: Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act

Shriver Custody Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Housing Projects Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Shriver Guardianship Project Fact Sheet - Aug 2018

Judicial Council

News Release - November 8, 2017

New Self-Help Resource on Section 8 Tenant Rights

Multilingual videos on Section 8 Tenant Rights were recently added to the California Courts Online Self-Help Center in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean.

Related:

California Courts Online Self-Help Center

Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force

Language Access

California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar chairs the Judicial Council's Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force.

News Release - April 17, 2018

Community Outreach Meeting on Language Access in California Courts

The Judicial Council’s task force on language access will hold a public meeting on April 24 in Sacramento to listen to community members and report on efforts to increase language access to the courts for limited English proficient (LEP) court users.

Related:

Language Access Task Force

Strategic Plan for Language Access

Language Access

News Release - August 3, 2018

Courts Expanding Language Services for the Public

Recent report details the increased access to interpreters in civil cases and the additional language services provided for court users inside and outside of the courtroom.

Related:

Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force

Language Access in the Courts

Language Access

An attorney discusses a case with her client outside a San Francisco courtroom with help from an interpreter. Photo: Jason Doiy

News Release - January 15, 2019

Judicial Council Hears How Language Services for Court Users Have Expanded

The Judicial Council at its January 14–15 business meeting heard from Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar on how California courts have increased access for court users with limited English skills.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Language Access

Judicial Council

Presented by Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar.

http://jcc.granicus.com/player/clip/890?meta_id=30525

News Release - March 15, 2019

Report: Video Remote Interpreting Effective for Court Users with Limited English Skills

At its March 15 business meeting, the Judicial Council approved recommendations for updating guidelines for video remote interpreting (VRI) and voted to have its staff coordinate a new VRI program for the judicial branch.

Related:

Judicial Council

Meeting information

Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts

Language Access

Judicial Council

News Release - May 10, 2019

Report to Judicial Council Shows Expansion of Self-Help Services by Local Courts

At its May 17 business meeting, the council will receive a report on how the state’s trial courts are using new branch funding provided in the 2018 state budget to increase access and improve court efficiency for the public.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

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.

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Judicial Council

Meeting information

Judicial Council

News Release - March 28, 2020

Judicial Council Approves Temporary Emergency Measures to Aid Courts During COVID-19 Pandemic

The measures aim to continue essential court services while guarding the health and safety of the public, court employees, attorneys, litigants, judicial officers, law enforcement, and staff and inmates in detention facilities.

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Judicial Council

Judicial Council

News Release - April 17, 2020

Judicial Council Mandates Electronic Service of Documents in Most Civil Cases

The council's latest temporary emergency rule requires attorneys to electronically serve and receive notices and documents in all general civil actions and family and probate proceedings when requested to do so.

Related:

Judicial Council

Temporary Emergency Rules

Judicial Council

News Release - April 20, 2020

Council Makes It Easier for Parties to Request Changes to Support Orders Amid Pandemic

Judges now have discretion to backdate modification requests for child, spousal, partner, or family support orders during the state of emergency.

Related:

Judicial Council

Temporary Emergency Rules

Judicial Council

Summary