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 Forum, May 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.