Strategic Planning

Goal III - Modernization of Management and Administration

Justice will be administered by a highly qualified judicial and executive leadership team in a fair, timely, efficient, and effective manner by using modern management practices that implement and sustain innovative ideas and effective practices.

Overview

The judicial branch is responsible for providing a court system that resolves disputes in a just and timely manner and operates efficiently and effectively. Some of the pressures affecting the branch's ability to do so are increased competition for limited state resources, expanding workloads, greater number of cases and resulting backlogs, increased case complexity, and the courts' need to respond to the information requirements of many entities. The branch also faces the difficult work of unifying and consolidating judicial administration policies, practices, and systems that are more efficiently coordinated on a statewide basis, while preserving and facilitating the ability of courts to develop and maintain efficient local practices.

The effective administration of justice requires deliberate attention to recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality staff at all levels, as well as to developing and implementing appropriate accountability and compliance measures. The judicial branch must also implement and sustain innovative practices and ensure that court environments are safe and secure.

For policy details, please see the complete Judicial Branch Strategic Plan | Graphic version (PDF, 9 MB) | Text only version (PDF, 154 KB).

Learn more about Trial and Appellate Court Management

Learn more about Trial and Appellate Case Management

Activities

• Creative Programs for California Courts
  Programs and initiatives that help our courts run better and, in turn, continue to improve access to justice for all Californians.
• Report on Public Education and Community Outreach Programs in California Courts (April 2007) (PDF, 92 KB)
  Highlights some of the public education and community outreach programs developed by state and federal courts in California.

Reports and Articles

• Trial Court Unification
  In 1998, California voters passed a constitutional amendment that provided for voluntary unification of the superior and municipal courts in each county into a single, countywide trial court system.

Task Forces and Commissions

• Appellate Advisory Committee
  Advises the council on matters related to procedures, forms, standards, practices, and operations of the appellate courts.
• Court Executives Advisory Committee
  Strengthens court administrators' access to and participation in the Judicial Council decision-making process.
• Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee
  Enhances trial court judges' access to and participation in the Judicial Council decision-making process.

Other Resources

• Judicial Council Annual Reports (1998 - Present)

Reports and Articles

• Judicial Council Annual Reports (1998 - Present)
• Court Statistics Reports
  Detailed 10-year statistical caseload and trend data on a variety of court business.

Task Forces and Commissions

• Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions
  Regularly reviews case law and statutes affecting jury instructions and makes recommendations to the council for updating, amending, and adding topics to the council's civil jury instructions.
• Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions
  Regularly reviews case law and statutes affecting jury instructions and makes recommendations to the council for updating, amending, and adding topics to the council's criminal jury instructions.
• Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee
  Identifies issues and concerns confronting the judiciary in the areas of civil procedure, practice, and case management, including small claims, and suggests appropriate solutions and responses.
• Criminal Law Advisory Committee
  Identifies issues and concerns confronting the judiciary in the areas of criminal procedure, practice, and case management and suggests solutions and responses.
• Domestic Violence Practice and Procedure Task Force
  Makes recommendations to the Judicial Council or its advisory committees for changes in the practice, procedure, or administration of cases involving domestic violence allegations.
• Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee
  Identifies issues and concerns faced by the courts in matters related to procedure, practice, and management of cases involving marriage, family, or children and suggests solutions and responses.
• Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee
  Assists the Judicial Council on probate and mental health issues.
• Probate Conservatorship Task Force
  Makes recommendations to the Judicial Council for reforms and improvements to the overall system of conservatorship administration.
• Task Force on Self-Represented Litigants
  Develops best practices to assist the growing number of Californians who need legal services but cannot afford an attorney.
• Traffic Advisory Committee
  Works toward improving the administration of justice in the adjudication of traffic and bail-forfeitable offenses.