Court Facilities Advisory Committee

Start Date: July 12, 2011

Purpose: to provide ongoing oversight of the judicial branch capital construction program for trial and appellate courts throughout the state.

Mar 11, 2013: Working group cuts budget of San Diego Courthouse

Tunnel to Central Jail canceled as a cost reduction measure.  News release

Feb 26, 203: Judicial Council delays 11 more courthouse projects absent additional funding

The council accepted the working group's recommendations to advocate for court construction funding restoration.  If not, 11 more courthouse projects are delayed at least a year. News release | Judicial Council report | Listen (19 min)

Feb 8, 2013: Working Group recommends funding for all courthouse projects

The working group recommended that funding be requested of the Legislature so that all active courthouse projects could proceed in the upcoming fiscal year. Without funding restoration, 11 urgently needed projects will not be able to move forward as scheduled.  News release

Justice Brad Hill SpeakingJan 17, 2013:  Judicial Council approves delay of four more court construction projects

Justice Brad Hill, Chair of the Court Facilities Working Group, presents the group's recommendations to delay courthouse projects in Sacramento, Fresno, Nevada City, and Los Angeles, pending the outcome of the state budget for fiscal year 2013-2014.
News release | Judicial Council report | Listen (10 min)


Dec 17, 2012: Invitation to comment

Working group draft recommendations resulting from the meeting Dec 13 posted for public comment.

Dec 13, 2012: More cuts possible to court construction program

With the potential for an additional shortfall to the courthouse construction budget, the Court Facilities Working Group will meet Thursday, Dec 13, to draft recommendations designating which of 23 courthouse projects should be indefinitely delayed. Meeting agenda

Oct 26, 2012: Judicial Council delays seven courthouse projects

The Judicial Council accepted the working group's recommendations to delay seven courthouse projects due to budget cuts. It also accepted the audit report from Pegasus-Global Holdings, Inc. and directed implementation of its recommendations. Judicial Council report

Sept 10, 2012: Recommendations from September 5-7 meeting

The working group recommended that seven court construction projects be indefinitely delayed due to budget cuts. It also accepted the audit report from Pegasus-Global Holdings, Inc. and endorsed implementation of its recommendations.

August 24, 2012: Audit subcommittee releases final audit report on court construction program

The audit subcommittee of the Court Facilities Working Group today released the final audit report on California’s court construction program.

July 23, 2012: Public comments on project reprioritization invited

The working group opened its five-week public comment process to gather information on which to base recommendations to the Judicial Council on which projects should proceed and which should be delayed.

July 13, 2012: Project reprioritization announced

Significant budget reductions will require that upwards of $500 million in court construction projects be delayed indefinitely. The working group announced an open, public process by which it will arrive at recommendations for the Judicial Council on which projects should proceed and which should be delayed.

April 24, 2012: Judicial Council meeting

The Judicial Council endorsed the Court Facilities Working Group's cost-cutting direction for court construction statewide, including the reassessment of 13 projects and further construction budget trimming on 24 projects.
Video report from the meeting
Video shown at the meeting:  Courthouse conditions statewide
Audio from the meeting
Judicial Council report

In July, 2011 Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye named the members of a new Court Facilities Working Group, which will:

  • provide ongoing oversight of the statewide program that maintains, renovates, and rebuilds courthouses;
  • oversee the work of the Administrative Office of the Courts in its management of 20 million square feet of court facilities statewide;
  • oversee the court building program of more than 50 courthouse projects scheduled for completion over the next several years;
  • provide ongoing oversight of policy issues, business practices, and budget monitoring and control; and
  • make recommendations as necessary to the Judicial Council.

Members (as of October 1, 2012)

Hon. Brad R. Hill, Chair
Administrative Presiding Justice of the
Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
Hon. Jamie A. Jacobs-May (Ret.)
Retired Judge, Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Hon. Patricia M. Lucas, Vice-Chair
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Santa Clara
Hon. Jeffrey W. Johnson
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District, Division One
Mr. Michael J. Bocchicchio, AIA
Former Associate Vice-President,
University of California System and
Former State Architect of California
Hon. Laura J. Masunaga
Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court of California,
County of Siskiyou
Hon. Donald Cole Byrd
Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court of California,
County of Glenn
Mr. Stephen Nash
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of San Bernardino
Mr. Anthony P. Capozzi
Attorney at Law
Hon. Gary R. Orozco
Assistant Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court of California,
County of Fresno
Mr. Stephan Castellanos, FAIA
Principal Architect
Derivi Castellanos Architects
Former State Architect of California
Hon. David Edwin Power
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Solano
Hon. Candace D. Cooper (Ret.)
Retired Justice, Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District
Ms. Linda Romero Soles
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Merced
Hon. Keith D. Davis
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Bernardino
Mr. Larry Spikes
County Administrative Officer
County of Kings
Hon. Samuel K. Feng
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of San Francisco
Mr. Kevin Stinson
Assistant Clerk Administrator
Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District,
Division Three
Hon. Robert D. Foiles
Assistant Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court of California,
County of San Mateo
Mr. Val Toppenberg
Consultant
Former Redevelopment Director for
City of West Sacramento and for City of Merced
Ms. Melissa Fowler-Bradley
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California,
County of Shasta
Hon. Robert J. Trentacosta
Assistant Presiding Judge of the
Superior Court of California,
County of San Diego
Hon. William F. Highberger
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Los Angeles
Mr. Thomas J. Warwick, Jr.
Attorney at Law

For September 5–7, 2012, meeting

In preparation for this meeting, the working group requested comment on draft criteria to be used in determining which projects among 31 funded by Senate Bill 1407 should move forward and which may need to be indefinitely delayed, given reduced funding. The working group also invited written comments on the projects themseves.

Meeting binder: includes agenda, meeting reports and other materials

Addendum to meeting binder

Written comments by court:

Statewide Placer
El Dorado Plumas
Fresno Riverside
Glenn Sacramento
Imperial San Diego
Inyo Santa Barbara

Kern

Shasta

Lake

Siskiyou
Los Angeles Sonoma
Mendocino Stanislaus
Merced Tehama
Monterey Tuolumne
Nevada  


ARCHIVE

For October 19-20, 2011, meeting

In preparation for this meeting, the working group requested written input from the 34 courts slated to receive new or renovated courthouses under Senate Bill 1407. The courts’ submissions are below.

List of SB 1407 projects

Alameda

Mendocino

Shasta

Alpine Merced Sierra
Butte Monterey Siskiyou
El Dorado Nevada Solano
Fresno Placer Sonoma
Glenn Plumas Stanislaus
Imperial Riverside Sutter
Inyo Sacramento Tehama
Kern San Diego Tuolumne
Kings San Joaquin Yolo
Lake Santa Barbara  
Los Angeles Santa Clara  

Questions or comments about this working group may be emailed to capitalprograms@jud.ca.gov

May 3, 2013
Judicial Council Soliciting Nominations for New Committee

Apr 26, 2013
Judicial Council Adopts New Budget Process for Trial Courts

Apr 19, 2013
Judicial Council to Consider New Budget Process for Trial Courts

Feb 26, 2013
Council Delays 11 More Court Construction Projects

Feb 19, 2013
Judicial Council To Consider More Court Construction Delays

Jan 17, 2013
Judicial Council Delays Four More Courthouse Projects

Dec 20, 2012
Budgets Reduced on Four Court Construction Projects

Dec 13, 2012
Four More Courthouse Projects May Be Delayed

Dec 6, 2012
More Cuts Possible to Court Construction Program

Nov 1, 2012
Budgets on Seven Courthouse Construction Projects Reduced

Oct 26, 2012
Judicial Council Delays Seven New Courthouses

September 10, 2012
Indefinite Delay for Seven Courthouse Construction Projects

September 7, 2012
Working Group Recommends Implementation of Audit

August 24, 2012
Audit of Court Construction Program Released

July 13, 2012
Further Cuts Ahead for Statewide Court Construction Program

May 4, 2012
Progress Report: Independent Oversight Consultant

Apr 24, 2012
Video: Judicial Council Accepts Recommendations of Court Facilities Working Group

Apr 16, 2012
Oversight Committee Recommends Reassessment of 13 Courthouse Projects for Cost Reductions

Jan 12, 2012
Independent Oversight Consultant Selected

Dec 12, 2011
Judicial Council Approves Cost Reductions in Facilities Program

Oct 24, 2011
Court Facilities Working Group Recommends Cost Reductions

Oct 3, 2011
Court Facilities Working Group Invites Public Comment on Courthouse Projects

Aug 30, 2011
Court Facilities Working Group Seeks Independent Expert

July 12, 2011
Chief Justice Names Court Facilities Working Group Members

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