Title
Title
Trial Court Budget | Workload Formula Adjustment Request Process Update (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Judicial Council’s Workload Formula policy is used to allocate certain funding to the trial courts based on workload measures. The policy includes an annual adjustment request process that allows the trial courts to propose changes to the methodology when workload-related factors are identified that are not currently accounted for in the model but are essential to court operations. The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends approval of administrative updates to streamline the process and clarify the instructions for submitting these requests.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective October 16, 2026, approve updates to the Workload Formula Adjustment Request Process Instructions including:
• Require all new adjustment requests to be submitted directly to the director of Judicial Council Budget Services rather than to the Administrative Director of the Judicial Council.
• Adjust process timelines to align with current practice and improve workflow efficiency.
• Update the title of the adjustment request instructions from “Procedures” to “Process Instructions” to better align with the document’s purpose.
• Include a brief summary of the Workload Formula at the beginning of the instructions to provide context for courts submitting requests.
• Provide courts with an opportunity to present their requests directly to the advisory committee responsible for evaluating them, enhancing transparency and ensuring accurate understanding.
• Make nonsubstantive narrative improvements throughout to strengthen organization, wording, and the use of plain language.
• Delegate changes to the submission instructions to the director of Judicial Council Budget Services, given the changes do not change the policy.
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