Judicial Administration

The Judicial Council’s Rules and Projects Committee (RUPRO) proposes amending several rules of court relating to memberships on advisory committees. The amendments would amend rule 10.31, the general rule on memberships, to clarify the terms of the chairs, members, and advisory members. It would also amend the rules relating to four specific advisory committees to add new or modify existing categories of membership.

Judicial sabbaticals are addressed in the Government Code and the California Rules of Court. Current law and practices provide for only unpaid sabbaticals on approval of the Judicial Council. The council’s Executive and Planning Committee proposes amending rule 10.502 to make it consistent with current law and practices and to eliminate outdated provisions on paid sabbaticals The amendments would also eliminate the role of the Judicial Sabbatical Review Committee.

On April 10, 2018, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye asked the Judicial Council to take immediate action to revise court rules on public records to ensure that all levels of the state court system be required to disclose the names of judicial officers who entered into settlement agreements to resolve sexual harassment and discrimination complaints. She created a working group to develop the rule changes required to achieve this goal.

In accordance with Government Code sections 87303 and 87306, the Judicial Council Conflict of Interest Code must be updated “when change is necessitated by changed circumstances.” (Gov. Code, § 87306.) The council must review proposed amendments to the Code and approve the Code as amended or direct that it be further revised and resubmitted for approval.

At the Judicial Council’s business meeting on August 26, 2011, the council adopted the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual effective October 1, 2011, the operative date of substantive requirements of the California Judicial Branch Contract Law. The council adopted revisions to the manual in December 2011, April 2012, August 2012, December 2013, June 2015, June 2016, July 2017, and July 2018. Additional revisions to the manual are proposed, and staff invites public comment regarding the proposed revisions.

At the Judicial Council’s business meeting on August 26, 2011, the council adopted the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual (JBCM) effective October 1, 2011, the operative date of substantive requirements of the California Judicial Branch Contract Law. The council adopted revisions to the JBCM in December 2011, April 2012, August 2012, December 2013, June 2015, June 2016, July 2017, July 2018, and September 2019. Additional revisions to the JBCM are proposed in tracked changes format, and staff invites public comment regarding the proposed revisions.