2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 10.491. Minimum education requirements for Judicial Council employees
(a) Applicability
Orientation and ongoing professional development for Judicial Council staff enables them to effectively provide service, leadership and expertise to the courts and to enhance trust and confidence in the judicial branch. All Judicial Council employees must complete minimum education requirements. These education requirements are included as a part of the employee performance evaluation process.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2017; previously amended effective January 1, 2016.)
(b) Education requirements for new employees and new managers and supervisors
(1) Each new employee with supervisory or management responsibilities must complete the new manager/supervisor orientation within six months of being hired or appointed.
(2) Each new employee, including those with supervisory or management responsibilities, must complete the new employee orientation within six months of being hired.
(3) For good cause, the Administrative Director or the employee's office director may grant an extension, up to six months, to complete the education requirements in (1) and (2).
(4) Completion of the orientation courses counts toward the education hours requirement in (c).
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2023; previously amended effective January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017.)
(c) Continuing education requirements
(1) Each employee must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years, beginning on January 1, 2017.
(2) For new employees beginning employment after July 1 of any year, the education hours may be prorated for that year at the discretion of the employee's supervisor.
(3) The Administrative Director may require management or employees to complete specific compliance courses. This compliance education applies toward the continuing education requirement in (c)(1) on an hour-for-hour basis.
(4) Education offered by an approved provider described in rule 10.481(a), as well as education that is approved by the employee's supervisor as meeting the criteria listed in rule 10.481(b), applies toward the employee's continuing education requirement.
(5) Each hour of participation in education by an approved provider under rule 10.481, including education that is instructor-led (live remote or in-person), asynchronous (such as videos and e-learning), and self-directed study approved in advance by an employee's supervisor, counts toward the continuing education requirement on an hour-for-hour basis.
(6) Participation in education, whether as a learner or as faculty, counts toward an employee's continuing education requirement under this rule on an hour-for-hour basis.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2023; previously amended effective January 1, 2012, July 1, 2013, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017.)
Rule 10.491 amended effective January 1, 2023; adopted effective January 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 1, 2008, January 1, 2012, July 1, 2013, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017.