Judicial Council to Consider Recommendations to Restructure AOC

August 24, 2012

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Judicial Council to Consider Recommendations to Restructure the AOC

Council's Executive and Planning Committee recommendations based on those previously presented by the Strategic Evaluation Committee

SAN FRANCISCO—On the second day of its public meeting on August 30-31, the Judicial Council will hear recommendations from its Executive and Planning Committee (E&P) to restructure the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The recommendations are based on those that the council’s Strategic Evaluation Committee (SEC) presented to the council at its June 21-22 meeting.

“The Executive and Planning Committee has accepted in some form almost all of the proposals made by the Strategic Evaluation Committee and will bring our recommendations to the Judicial Council for approval,” said Justice Douglas Miller, chair of the council’s Executive and Planning Committee. “Our committee spent several days going over the SEC report with the assistance of San Diego Judge David Rubin, the President of the California Judges Association, as well as three SEC representatives: the SEC Chair, Assistant Presiding Judge Charles D. Wachob of the Superior Court of Placer County, Vice Chair Presiding Judge Brian L. McCabe of the Superior Court of Merced, and SEC member Presiding Judge Sherrill Ellsworth of the Superior Court of Riverside County. The Chief Justice appointed the three SEC representatives to the Judicial Council to ensure continuity and consistency between the SEC report and what E&P is recommending to the council. I am looking forward to our presentation.”

In its report to the council, E&P outlines a timeline for the implementation of the structural changes for the AOC. E&P also recommends that the Judicial Council direct the Administrative Director of the Courts to keep E&P informed so it can report to the council on the progress of implementation. 

The council’s public meeting is scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. on August 30 and 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on August 31 in the Judicial Council Conference Center, Hiriam Johnson State Office Building, Third Floor, Ronald M. George State Office Complex, 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. A live audiocast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website and the agenda and reports are posted online.

Other items on the council meeting agenda include:

Process and Criteria for 2% State-Level Reserve Funding: The council’s Trial Court Budget Working Group will present recommendations regarding the process and criteria for trial courts to apply for funding from the state-level reserve.

Report from the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care: The report recommends that the Judicial Council direct staff of the Blue Ribbon Commission to seek private foundation funding to hold a California summit on truancy and school discipline.

The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. The Administrative Office of the Courts carries out the official actions of the council and promotes leadership and excellence in court administration.