SACRAMENTO—Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero took office today as the 29th Chief Justice of California. She is the first Latina and third woman to hold the office in state history. Chief Justice Guerrero and Justice Evans both took the oath of office from Gov. Gavin Newsom. In the audience were First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and […]
Judicial Council of California
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California Chief Justice Issues Advisory to Courts Amid COVID-19 Surge
December 7, 2020 – Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued an advisory to leaders of California’s 58 county superior courts with guidance to continue to seek emergency orders if needed based on local conditions and ability to hold remote hearings or provide social distancing under state and local health rules. The memo was issued in […]
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Judicial Council, Chief Justice End Some Emergency Measures as California and Courts Expand Reopening
June 10, 2020 – The Judicial Council of California voted to end the COVID-19 emergency bail schedule, as California begins a phased re-opening and courts restore services shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Judicial Council voted 17-2 to rescind, effective June 20, the COVID-19 temporary bail schedule that set presumptive bail at $0 for […]
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California Chief Justice Extends Criminal Trial Deadlines
April 29, 2020 – California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Wednesday issued a statewide order further extending deadlines for California’s superior courts to hold criminal trials. The order adds a 30-day extension of time, bringing extensions of time to hold criminal trials during the pandemic to a total of 90 days. The order also urges […]
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Chief Justice Issues Statewide Order Suspending Jury Trials
March 23, 2020 – California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued a statewide order suspending all jury trials in California’s superior courts for 60 days and allowing courts to immediately adopt new rules to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Justice said her order is aimed at ensuring California courts—which remain open as […]
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Chief Justice Issues Statement on Emergency Response in California Courts
March 13, 2020 – California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye today issued the following statement on emergency response measures in California courts: “The California Supreme Court, the six Courts of Appeal, the 58 trial courts, and the Judicial Council of California are working closely with local, county, state, and federal health departments to respond to […]
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Wildfire Litigation Spotlights Civil Case Coordination
April 12, 2018 – In the wake of wildfires that devastated parts of California’s Wine Country last October, nearly 100 civil lawsuits were filed against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. alleging the utility had a role in sparking the blaze. The answer to this influx was civil case coordination, which joined the cases in San […]
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Chief Justice Workgroup: Money Bail is “Unsafe and Unfair”
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2017 – A workgroup established by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye to study California’s bail system issued a slate of recommendations on 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 […]
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Chief Justice Selects Butte County Civic Learning Partnership for Prestigious Award
May 2, 2017 – Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye selected Butte County Civic Learning Partnership to receive the Chief Justice’s Exemplary Service and Leadership Award, which gives special recognition for outstanding service to the judicial branch. Members of the Butte Civic Learning Partnership, co-led by Butte County Superior Court Judge Kristen A. Lucena, learned of […]
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California Courts Council Creates Directory for Information and Resources on Immigration Issues
March 27, 2017 – A new directory on the California Courts online self-help center provides a comprehensive set of links to information and resources for immigrants who must access the legal system. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye announced the formation of the California Immigration Information Resource Workgroup on February 1, and directed it to aggregate existing […]
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Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Objects to Immigration Enforcement Tactics at California Courthouses
Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye March 16, 2017 – Expresses concerns in letter to Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Kelly Dear Attorney General Sessions and Secretary Kelly: As Chief Justice of California responsible for the fair administration of justice in our state, I am deeply concerned about reports from some of our trial courts that immigration agents […]
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Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, to Hear Oral Argument at Nevada Union High School
February 27, 2017 at 4:27 PM Editor’s note: The initial press release sent by the Judicial Council listed an incorrect date. The correct date is Thursday, March 2nd. Sacramento February 27, 2017 – Administrative Presiding Justice Vance W. Raye announced that as part of its award-winning community outreach program, the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, […]