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Title
Judicial Council | 2025 Legislative Priorities (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
Each year, the Judicial Council adopts legislative priorities to further key council objectives in the upcoming legislative year. The Legislation Committee recommends that the Judicial Council consider an approach similar to last year’s for the 2025 legislative year: continued stable and reliable funding to address increased costs, continued advancement of remote access to the courts while balancing due process, funding for judgeships statewide and judicial officers in counties with the greatest need, availability of verbatim records of court proceedings, and operational efficiencies in the courts. The Legislation Committee also recommends expanding legislative priorities to include increased security to safeguard personnel, the public, and court systems from physical, online, and cyber threats.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Legislation Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective
January 1, 2025, approve the following legislative priorities for 2025:
1. Continue to advocate for sufficient funding, including for:
a. Stable and reliable funding for courts to address annual cost increases in baseline operations and plan for the future; and
b. Sufficient resources to improve physical access to the courts by keeping courts open; expanding access by increasing the ability of court users to conduct branch business online; increasing security to safeguard personnel, the public, and court systems from physical, online, and cyber threats; strengthening programs and services; and continuing to implement innovations in programs and services;
2. Continue to seek funding for judgeships overall and particularly for judicial
officers in counties with the greatest need;
3. Continue to promote the availability of verbatim records of court proceedings
by working collaboratively to address court reporter shortages and exploring
innovations in technology;
4. Seek legislative authorization, if needed and authorized by the Judicial
Council in 2025, for the disposition of unused courthouses in fair market
value transactions, with the proceeds to be directed to the State Court
Facilities Construction Fund (the successor fund of the Immediate and
Critical Needs Account) established by Senate Bill 1407 (Perata; Stats.
2008, ch. 311) or any other Judicial Council facilities fund authorized
by the Legislature;
5. Continue to sponsor or support legislation to improve judicial branch
operational efficiencies, including cost-savings and cost-recovery measures
as well as the ability to conduct proceedings, in whole or in part, using
remote technology in order to expand safe and reliable access to justice; and
6. Delegate to the Legislation Committee the authority to take positions or
provide comments on behalf of the Judicial Council on proposed legislation
(state and federal), administrative rules or regulations, and proposals by other
bodies or agencies after evaluating input from council advisory bodies,
council staff, and the courts, provided that the input is consistent with the
council’s established policies and precedents.
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Speakers
Speakers
Hon. Stacy E. Boulware Eurie, Chair, Legislation Committee
Mr. Cory T. Jasperson, Governmental Affairs