Judicial Diversity in the News

Court Expands Availability of Funds to Pursue Relief Under the Racial Justice Act in Capital Cases; Approves Revision to Payment Policies for Attorneys in Capital Cases

June 23, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

The temporary amendment, which will remain in effect through June 30, 2026, expands the availability of funding to develop and present claims under the Racial Justice Act of 2020.

California Supreme Court Approves Additional Bar Exam Remedies

June 11, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Court grants parts of two State Bar proposals to extend eligibility for Provisional License Program and to impute scores from February Bar exam

California Supreme Court Proposes Amendments to Rules Governing the Bar Exam and Attorney Admissions

May 28, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Court directs State Bar of California to circulate proposed amendments for 45 days of public comment.

California Justices Give Grads Lessons in Courage and Conviction

May 27, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Justices Goodwin Liu, Leondra Kruger, and Kelli Evans addressed thousands of California's newest law school graduates this commencement season.

Council's Tribal Court-State Court Forum Celebrates 15th Anniversary

May 23, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Now an advisory committee, the original Tribal Court/State Court Coalition was launched in 2010 to forge working relationships between California's tribal and state court judges.

Related: Tribal Court-State Court ForumMay 20, 2010 Press Release - Chief Justice George Appoints New Coalition of Tribal and State Courts

Judge Ana España Named 2025 Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile Court Judge of the Year

May 21, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

San Diego judge champions “Kin-First” culture in child welfare system and develops strong partnerships with local agencies and Native American tribes

Related: Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee

2025 Judicial Demographics Report: California Bench Continues to Grow More Diverse  

March 3, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Data shows steady increase over the last 19 years in the number of women, and justices and judges of color. 

California Judges Receive National LGBTQ+ Award

February 11, 2025 | California Courts Newsroom

Trailblazers in the LGBTQ+ legal community, Alameda County Judge Victoria Kolakowski and Los Angeles County Judge D. Zeke Zeidler received the 2025 Stonewall Award from the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
 

Judges in the Classroom Outreach Program Celebrates Most In-Demand School Year Yet

January 7, 2025| California Courts Newsroom

Nearly 400 visits to K-12 classrooms have been requested for the 2024-2025 school year, which is the most since the program started in 2020.

California Supreme Court’s Outreach Session Draws Fresno Students of All Ages

December 4, 2024| California Courts Newsroom

Under the leadership of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, the court traveled to Fresno to hear oral arguments with special guests from Fresno schools observing.

Tri-Counties Judicial Mentor Program Offers Guidance to Attorneys Seeking Judgeships

December 13, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Two-year-old program in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties has 22 volunteer judges mentoring 29 attorneys.

Jury Service and Fairness: Understanding the Challenges of Implicit Bias

December 5, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom 

New video for jurors aligns with Council's strategic plan to promote education on unconscious bias.

Honoring California’s Native American Judges

November 9, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
This month, California's judicial branch commemorates the contributions of four judges who served the state courts.
 

Judicial Council Names Shelley Curran Next Administrative Director

September 19, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Curran, the council’s chief policy and research officer, will assume the judicial branch leadership role Jan. 1. Curran is the first woman to hold the permanent leadership role at the council. She is also the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold this statewide office.
 

Judicial Branch Celebrates First Juneteenth State Holiday

June 15th, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Juneteenth became a California state holiday this year, requiring courts be closed in observance of this day as a judicial holiday, through the passage of Assembly Bill 1655.