RESEARCH & DATA

Court Statistics Report Dashboard

The Court Statistics Report contains filings and dispositions data since 2013, per county and by case type.

A filing is the initiation of a legal action with the court through a carefully prescribed legal procedure. A disposition may be described as a final settlement or determination in a case. A final judgment, a dismissal of a case, and the sentencing of a criminal defendant are all examples of dispositions. 

Glossary

Glossary

appeal: A proceeding for direct review of a civil or criminal judgment from a limited jurisdiction case, including small claims matters.

certification (W&I 5250): A 14-day certification to detain and treat a person who, owing to a mental disorder or chronic alcoholism, is alleged to be a danger to self and/or others and/or is gravely disabled.

conservatorship and guardianship: All probate proceedings, will contests, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings (including con­servatorship proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act).

disposition: Termination of a proceeding.  Civil dispositions before trial include trans­fers to another trial court, dismissals, sum­mary judg­ments, and other judgments.  Crimi­nal dispositions before trial include transfers to another trial court, sentences after pleas of guilty or no contest, and dismissals.  Civil dispositions after trial include entry of judgment after jury trial and court trial.  Criminal dispositions after trial include acquittals, grants of probation, and sentences after conviction.  

family law (marital): Proceedings in which a petition has been filed for dissolution or voiding of a marriage or for legal separation.

family law (establish parental relationship): A petition (form FL-200) brought under the Uniform Parentage Act to establish parental relationship (Fam. Code, § 7600). A surrogacy petition filed in the court should also be captured in this area.

family law (domestic violence): A family law case type based on a Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (form DV 100) seeking protection under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (Fam. Code, § 6200).

family law (DCSS): A child support matter where the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is a party to the case through the filing of one of the following: a complaint (form FL-600) to establish parental obligation, parentage, and/or child support (Fam. Code, §§ 2330.1, 17400, 17404), a Statement for Registration of California Support Order (form FL-650) by DCSS (Fam. Code, § 5601), a Notice Regarding Payment of Support (FL-632), or a petition filed requesting the court to establish a support order for a spouse or child, payable by the obligor under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (Fam. Code, § 4900) or the registration of an interstate support order by DCSS (Fam. Code, § 5601).

family law petitions: Family law cases other than marital cases, petitions to establish parental relationship, domestic violence petitions and petitions filed by the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) for reimbursement of child support.

felony: A criminal case alleging an offense punishable by imprisonment in a state prison or by death.

filings in civil matters: Civil cases for which complaints or petitions have been filed.

filings in criminal matters: The number of defendants against whom criminal charges have been filed.

filings in juvenile matters: The number of minors who are the subjects of petitions.

habeas corpus criminal: Petition alleging unlawful imprisonment, unlawful restraint of liberty, or unlawful confinement conditions (Pen. Code, § 1473).

juvenile delinquency proceedings: Petitions filed under Welfare and Insti­tutions Code section 602, alleging violation of a criminal statute, and petitions filed under Welfare and Institutions Code section 601, alleging that a minor is beyond the control of  parents or guardians but has not violated any law. An original petition begins a delinquency proceeding.  A subse­quent petition adds allega­tions against a minor child who is already subject to the court’s jurisdiction.

juvenile dependency proceedings: Petitions filed under Welfare and Insti­tutions Code section 300, seeking to make a minor child a ward of the court because of abuse or neglect.  An original petition begins a dependency proceeding.  A subse­quent petition adds allega­tions regard­ing a minor child who is already subject to the court’s jurisdiction.

limited civil: All civil matters with a value of $35,000 or less, except small claims matters.

mental health proceedings: Includes most types of mental health cases, including LPS conservatorships (W&I 5350), mental competency (PC 1368; W&I 709), and civil commitments with or without an underlying criminal case.

motor vehicle personal injury, death, and property damage: Actions for damages in excess of $25,000 for physical injury to per­sons and property and actions for wrongful death related to motor vehicle accidents.

nontraffic infractions: Nontraffic viola­tions of state statutes or local ordinances specified as infractions.

nontraffic misdemeanors: Misdemeanors including intoxication complaints and violations of the Penal Code, local city and county ordinances, and the Fish and Game Code.

other civil complaints and petitions: Cases not covered in any other civil case category, including complaints for declaratory relief only, mechanics’ liens, and petitions for partnership and corporate governance.  If the requested relief is for money, it must be in excess of $25,000 to be filed as a general-jurisdiction case.

other mental health proceedings: Includes other mental health cases not included in the mental health category as well as noncriminal habeas corpus.

other probate: Includes decedent’s estate, trust and all other probate cases other than conservatorship, or guardianship.

personal injury, death, and property damage: All actions for damages in excess of $25,000 for physical injury to persons and property and all actions for wrongful death.

reduced to misdemeanor: Cases in which a charge originally filed as a felony is dis­posed of as a misdemeanor.

small claims: All matters filed in small claims court (value of $12,500 or less).

traffic infractions: Traffic-related violations of state statutes or city or county ordinances specified as infractions, including parking violations.

traffic misdemeanors: Violations of Vehicle Code § 20002 (hit and run, property damage), 23104 (reckless driving, causing injury), and 23152 (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) and all other traffic misdemeanors.

unlawful detainer: An action involving the possession of real property by a commercial or residential tenant whose original entry was lawful but whose right to the possession has terminated.

unlimited civil: All civil matters with a value of more than $35,000.

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