2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 10.463. Education requirements for family court judges and subordinate judicial officers
Each judge or subordinate judicial officer whose primary assignment is to hear family law matters, or who regularly hears family law matters regardless of their primary assignment, must complete the following education:
(a) Basic family law education
(1) Within one year of beginning a family law assignment, the judge or subordinate judicial officer must complete a basic educational program on California family law and procedure designed primarily for judicial officers. A judge or subordinate judicial officer who has completed the basic educational program need not complete the basic educational program again.
(2) All other judicial officers who regularly hear family law matters, including retired judges who sit on court assignment, must complete appropriate family law education.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted as (1) effective January 1, 1992; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2003; previously amended effective January 1, 2008.)
(b) Continuing family law education
The judge or subordinate judicial officer must complete a periodic update on new developments in California family law and procedure at least once each education cycle.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted as (2) effective January 1, 1992; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2003; previously amended effective January 1, 2008.)
(c) Other family law education
To the extent that judicial time and resources are available, the judge or subordinate judicial officer must complete additional educational programs on other aspects of family law including interdisciplinary subjects relating to the family.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2008; adopted as (3) effective January 1, 1992; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2003.)
Rule 10.463 amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted as rule 1200 effective January 1, 1992; previously amended and renumbered as rule 5.30 effective January 1, 2003, and as 10.463 effective January 1, 2008.
Advisory Committee Comment
In determining what constitutes "appropriate" education, judges and subordinate judicial officers should determine the number of hours of education on family law matters that is adequate for their assignment, taking into account the size of the court, the nature of their assignment, the mix of assignments, and other factors.