Assembly Floor

Good morning. We would like to call the annual State of the Judiciary to order. This is a joint convention of the California Legislature.

On behalf of the California State Senate and the California State Assembly, represented by the honorable speaker of the Assembly, Robert Revis, and to all of the Assembly Members, we welcome you to the California State Capitol.

We're joined today by dedicated Members of the Legislature, and we want to say thank you for your work on behalf of the people of California. And we're honored that judges and justices from all 58 counties representing the Golden State's judicial system are in attendance.

If we could have all of the judges and justices who are here, can we please give them a round of applause? And if you could please rise and let's give them a warm welcome and say thank you for your incredible work. We also have some very special guests with us today.

If we could please give a warm welcome to the 40th Governor of the great State of California, Mr. Gavin Newsom. Can we please welcome our Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kunalakis. The Attorney General is in the house. Can we please give a round of applause for Mr. Rob Bonta. Can we please welcome our Secretary of State, Ms.

Shirley Weber, representing the Board of Equalization. Can we please give a warm welcome? The board Member, Sally Lieber. At this time, we're going to ask the Members, the Members of the Legislature and all of our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery to please rise. Please rise.

At this time, we're going to be led in prayer this morning by the assistant Majority Leader, Senator Ashby, after which we're going to ask each of you to please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, which will be led this morning by Assistant Majority Leader Senator Wahab. Senator Ashby, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. And our pro tem. Those who do justice will shine like the stars for all of eternity. From the Book of Daniel. Gracious God of justice and mercy, we give you thanks for all the Members of our judiciary who daily seek to bring truth and fairness to the profession that is their calling.

By the integrity of their work. May our society witness their discernment, courage and compassion as they overthrow barriers of discrimination and repair the impacts of oppression and exploitation within the human family. We thank you for their generosity in ensuring freedom, respect, and a growing trust in a populace that is fallible and easily discouraged.

May they be persons whose clarity of vision and commitments of conscience lead all of us to be dutiful and vigilant citizens, contributing to the wholeness of the common life we all share. And may the effects of their decisions ultimately be experienced as your law of love, balancing justice and mercy. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Thank you so much, Senator Ashby. We're going to ask all to please remain standing. We're now going to recognize Senator Wahab.

Please join me. Proudly, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. You may be seated. Thank you.

All Members of the Assembly, Members of the Senate. Without objection, the Senate rules are suspended to allow guests on the floor today. Ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, the following Senators and Assembly Members have been selected as the escort Committee to advance Chief Justice Guerrero to the rostrum.

We're going to respectfully request Senators Umberg, Erragun, Richardson and Valadaris to please make their way to the back of the chambers. We're also going to ask Assembly Members Kalra, Stefani, El Harari and Dixon to please make their way to the back of the chambers.

In 60 seconds, we're going to advance the Chief Justice for the State Supreme Court. Ladies and gentlemen, all rise and let's give a round of applause and a warm welcome to Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero of the California State Supreme Court. Thank you. You all may be seated.

It was 175 years ago this month, 175 years ago, that the California Supreme Court convened for the first time. It was just a few short months before the Golden State was admitted to our union.

In the intervening years, the Court has helped chart the Golden State to be one of the most successful in the United States of America. The State Supreme Court has been part of many momentous decisions that have changed the lives of millions for better Upholding the state's assault weapons ban.

The Court was an early voice in support of interracial marriage. And in 2008, they advanced the decision that sexual orientation is a protected class. And it could be said that the State Supreme Court's role is more important than ever. The role of a thoughtful, independent judiciary is vital.

Vital to a free, democratic republic that this nation's founder so proudly established. And it's this judicial Independence that separates the United States of America from the rest of the free world. The Court, including our very own. The courts protect the weak, protect the weak from the powerful, the people from harm.

The courts protect the minority from the majority. And their job isn't to be popular. Their job isn't to be political. Their job is to be able to enforce the rule Law without influence or intimidation. And it's clear that the State Supreme Court justices who are with us today take this obligation seriously and without reservation.

Now, speaking of our Supreme Court associate Justices, it is now my honor to be able to introduce each and every one of them. I'm going to ask the associate justices to please stand as I individually introduce you. And I'm going to ask you to remain standing until we've introduced the entire bench.

Can we please give a round of applause to Justice Carol Corrigan. Can we give a round of applause to Justice Goodwin Liu. Can we please welcome Justice Joshua Groban. A warm welcome to Justice Martin Jenkins. Can we please welcome Justice Kelly Evans. Ladies and gentlemen, please, a round of applause for the State Supreme Court.

Now, when she addressed the Legislature last year, Chief Justice Guerrero emphasized that one of her priorities, one of her priorities was the need to enhance public confidence in the judiciary. Madam Chief Justice, we're grateful for your work, and we know it's needed now more than ever to be able to introduce our Chief Justice for her remarks.

I'd like to ask our neighbor from across the rotunda, a good friend. I'm grateful for his partnership, his work on behalf of the 40 million people of California. Can we please welcome to the rostrum. Round of applause for Speaker Robert Rivas.

And good morning, and thank you, Senate President Pro Tem Mcguire and Governor Newsom, our distinguished statewide constitutional officers, honored guests, thank you for joining us on this important day.

And today, we recognize the essential role that our courts and that our justice system play in safeguarding democracy, in upholding the rule of law, and ensuring equal access to justice for every single Californian. Our state's judiciary, the third branch of our state government, is the largest in the nation, serving over 40 million people.

Each year, our extensive court system hears more than 10,000 cases, significantly outpacing the federal courts and profoundly, profoundly influencing jurisprudence across the United States. Our courts, they deserve our deepest respect, especially amongst these times of uncertainty and challenge. It remains a steadfast guardian of justice in demonstrating resilience, integrity, and unwavering dedication to ethical principles.

And clearly, in an era of critical national discourse about our rights and our liberties, the work of our courts and their dedicated personnel and staff is more vital than ever. And now it is my privilege to introduce and outspoken, outstanding leader, a woman who embodies the very best of California's judicial excellence.

Born and raised in California's Imperial Valley as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she made history in January of 2023 by becoming the first Latina Chief Justice of California. We take great pride. We take great pride in her accomplishments, in her leadership and in her vision for the future.

Please join me in warmly welcoming the 29th Chief Justice of California, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Senate President Pro Tem Mcguire, Speaker Rivas, distinguished statewide constitutional officers and guests, and of course, Governor Newsom. Thank you for the opportunity to deliver my State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the California State Legislature.

I'm very proud to be joined once again by my colleagues from the California Supreme Court and our CEO and court staff, justices, judges and court executives from local courts around the state, Members of the Judicial Council, the California Judges Association and the Bench Bar Coalition, and our justice system stakeholders and partners.

Much has happened since I addressed you last year. I decided to start with an understatement. In March of last year, I emphasized the judicial branch's priority with respect to advocating for a stable budget that the courts can count on to make public access to justice a reality in all 58 counties in May.

We were then faced with $97 million in reductions at the trial court level and the prospect of up to 7.95% reductions for other parts of the judicial branch.

I express the judicial branch's commitment to doing our part to address the state budget deficit while working diligently to mitigate and manage the impacts to the courts and to the public of this current fiscal year's budget cuts. It was definitely challenging our courts found efficiencies, but also had to implement some tough solutions.

Necessary actions included closing courtrooms and courthouses, implementing some form of furloughs, and reducing hours for self help and clerk's office services. But we appreciated the opportunity to maintain an ongoing dialogue with our sister branches of government regarding the details of our budget.

And I'm pleased to say that following the Governor's proposed budget in January of this year, courts have reported that the partially restored funding should help by reducing hiring freezes and delays, reducing service impacts, and preventing, eliminating or scaling back on planned furloughs. But unfortunately. Thank you.

Thank you.

Now, the downside. Unfortunately, much uncertainty remains. Nonetheless, we remain committed to working with the Governor's Administration and the Legislature in the coming months as plans for the Budget act are finalized. We know and appreciate that you all face hard choices and that you weigh competing demands for scarce resources as you review the proposed budget.

It is our hope that you will continue to keep in mind the fundamental reason we seek our share of the budget. The mission as you heard of the Judicial branch is to resolve disputes and to interpret and apply the law consistently, impartially and independently to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by both the federal and state constitution.

And we seek to do so in a fair, accessible, effective and efficient manner. We need funding to properly fulfill this solemn responsibility as a co equal branch of government to safeguard the constitutional rights and liberties of all Californians.

In my third year as Chief Justice, I'm energized to be driving forward with the conviction of my own sworn oath to protect and defend the Constitutions. Guided as all of our judges are by a dedication to the rule of law and inspired by the desire to give back to deliver equal access to justice for all Californians.

We, of course, do not do our work on behalf of the public alone. I want to emphasize how important it is that all three branches of government are here to together today. This reflects our commitment to work collaboratively with civility and with mutual respect on behalf of the people that we serve.

Our relationships are informed by an understanding of our distinct roles and duties, protected by the checks and balances inherent in our democratic system of government and strengthened by personal commitment to the rule of law. I know that you share that commitment.

I've had the privilege of administering oaths of office to many public servants, including many of you here today. The oaths we take represent the key pillars of our constitutional democracy as we affirm to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California.

This foundation supports a healthy climate of productive public discourse and thoughtful and thorough deliberation on issues that impact our state, our counties, our communities, our families and others. Because of this foundation of justice, no one is above the law, no one is outside of the law, and no one is excluded from its rights and protections.

And so, with these principles in mind, I stand here proud to say that the State of the Judiciary remains strong, strong. And that we're ready, willing and able to uphold our responsibilities and play our role to benefit the people who we serve in California. I also spoke last year of three branch solutions.

I believe that concept continues to be of utmost importance. That is why I encourage judges throughout the state to engage with their local Senators and Assembly Members to foster communication between our two branches.

And I continue to encourage all of you to meet with court leadership and staff in your home districts and to experience firsthand the services and the access that they provide to all of your constituents. Since my address last year, at least 19 legislators spent time visiting nine local trial courts in in their districts.

I was pleased to be joined by President Pro Tem Mcguire on a visit to the Superior Court of Mendocino county, and by Speaker Rivas on a visit to the Superior Court of Monterey County last year.

These visits create a greater understanding of the operational challenges facing courts and how courts focus on innovations and efficiencies in order to better serve the public. You will also see firsthand the great benefits of remote proceedings. You didn't think I would get through this without mentioning remote proceedings?

Each business day, more than 6,500 remote hearings in both civil and criminal cases take place in our courts, saving court users an estimated 1.5 million trips to courthouses annually.

Remote proceedings have been universally praised by both court staff and court users as both time and cost savers, and most importantly, because the option to appear remotely gives litigants a choice about how they access the court system.

I want to acknowledge and thank you for listening to our pleas for an extension of remote proceedings through budget trailer bills. We now have statutory authorization for criminal and civil remote proceedings until January 1st, 2027. Thank you.

Through your visits to our courts, you will also see and hear from dedicated judges, court Executive officers, attorneys and staff who help make up the face of the judiciary. They are talented, hardworking, dedicated public servants who constantly respond to increasing workload demands and I am proud to serve alongside of them. Currently, we have about 67 judicial vacancies.

I had to update the number from yesterday. We're grateful to the Governor and his Judicial Appointment Secretary for their ongoing work to fill these vacancies. As was recently reported, with nearly two years left in his term, Governor Newsom has already appointed 586 judges, including 131 in 2024. Putting him on. You applauded. Thank you.

And here's the key putting him on track to surpass prior administrations. We are all beneficiaries of Governor Newsom's commitment to identifying and appointing excellent judges and leaving a lasting imprint on the judiciary. Thank you, Governor.

I also would like to commend the proposal to provide long overdue funding to support the Court appointed counsel programs for our Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. They support an important need to provide effective, efficient and experienced counsel for appellants with death judgments and indigent defendants on appeal.

This funding is critical, critical to attract and retain qualified counsel and to help rebuild the statewide panel of attorneys whose work is fundamental to the effective Administration of justice. As with all the funding we receive, we recognize that we must be good stewards of the resources we seek as part of our role in three branch solutions.

I'm committed to transparency and accountability. With the public funds allocated to the judicial branch, courts are enhancing case flow management and case resolution for the workload reporting that we provide to you. At our April Judicial Council meeting, we will receive a report on our weighted caseload model.

This helps us to accurately assess resource needs and equitably allocate the resources you provide. We seek to provide improved data collection and analysis that prioritizes actual level of effort and time to resolve cases over basic raw filings data. We know that raw filings fell during the pandemic and that filings now are rising once again.

But even more significantly, the complexity of the workload for courts has exponentially increased. We measure workloads using a case weight methodology developed by the National Center for State Court and used in at least 30 other states, which allows us to consider both case volume and case complexity.

For example, between 2017 and 2025, preliminary data shows that case rates have risen 54% for felonies, 95% for juvenile cases, and 26% for conservatorship and guardianship proceedings. These are dramatic, fundamental shifts that impact our work.

The fact remains that the law evolves each year as your branch we're not complaining each year as your branch identifies important policy issues that must be addressed, ranging from important issues such as ameliorative laws touching upon post judgment resentencing, juvenile justice diversion, collaborative justice and the Racial justice act, as well as measures reflecting the will of the people through ballot measures such as Prop 36.

These and other factors all affect the Court's case volume mix and complexity and increases their workload. I look forward to providing the results of our study to you soon as we update and refine our post pandemic data to establish solid baselines for our workload resources and judicial needs.

We will continue to advocate for for judgeships in those counties that need it the most, including San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

And we will continue to focus on enhancing education and training for all of our judicial officers so that we can deliver the highest quality of justice and service to the public and to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and performance.

We also continue to focus on other key issues and programs of mutual interest and concern and I'd like to touch upon a few of those now. Since I delivered my last State of the Judiciary, our trial courts in all 58 counties have now implemented the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment, or CARE Act.

Under the CARE act, the courts continue to collaborate with California Health and Human Services Agency to deliver mental health treatment, housing support and other services through a civil court process for persons with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders who often experience homelessness or incarceration without treatment.

As of February 21, courts have held 1258Care act have received 1258Care act petitions and held 2092 hearings. The numbers continue to improve, and the numbers do not tell the full story. Behind the metrics are real people, real individuals, families and communities benefiting from the Act.

And the holistic approach of unifying and coordinating public services, as has been done with our collaborative justice courts, yields other benefits because there are some who might not be eligible for the CARE act who are nonetheless receiving referrals to other services to meet their specific through these efforts, we are seeing significant improvement in assisting Californians struggling with mental health issues.

When I spoke with you last year, I also stated that our court system must address the many issues presented by the developing field of artificial intelligence in a deliberative fashion.

Since then, I appointed a task force led by Administrative Presiding Justice Brad Hill, who will continue to work with Administrative Presiding Justice Mary Greenwood and Judge Arturo Castro, as well as Members from the Judicial Council on this ever evolving issue. And they're still smiling. You don't see it.

The task force has developed a model use policy that outlines the guardrails for safely using generative AI. They have just circulated a draft rule of court for public comment and this we hope will assure that court users are protected as the branch implements generative AI. The Judicial Council will vote on this recommended rule later this year.

The task force has also developed guidance for judges using generative AI in their adjudicative role. So stay tuned as this issue continues to evolve. Through funding you provided. We also launched the California Court Interpreter Workforce Pilot Program this fiscal year.

The program covers training and cost and exam fees for aspiring court interpreters with the commitment to work for the courts for at least three years after they pass the required exams. 19 courts are currently participating.

More than 1000 applications have been received from interested candidates, 126 candidates are are in the program currently and the application cycle opens again this month. Because this is a five year pilot, we believe that the program will help address the growing need for qualified interpreters to serve California court users with limited English proficiency.

Up next, the Court appointed Special Advocate or Casa programs. They support trained volunteers appointed by a judicial officer to advocate for children who are under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court. Volunteers spend time with children, monitoring their service needs and providing child focused recommendations to the court based on the best interest of the child.

We have 45 Casa programs in 52 counties. They serve 10,600 children with 7,400 trained volunteers and we appreciate your ongoing support of this important program.

The Council and the courts are also working with the California Department of Social Services to focus on a kin first culture, the term used to describe a system that prioritizes placing children with their extended family network. These efforts are ongoing in Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Solano and Kern counties and in San Diego. County.

This approach has seen an increase of 10% in children being safely placed with family. And through our Judicial Branch Facilities Program, not as exciting but also important, we seek to design and construct functional, economical and secure contemporary court facilities for all of these court users and Members of the local community. With your support.

In the past year, the Judicial Council has successfully completed two new public buildings in Shasta County and in Riverside County. Construction continues on three projects anticipated to be completed this year and one in 2026.

And in light of recent attacks and threats on courthouses, we continue to evaluate existing facilities to identify physical security improvements to make those courthouses safer for the public, judicial officers and court staff and justice system partners.

Through all of these changes and improvements, the Judicial Branch is demonstrating its ability to play our role in effectively and efficiently serving the people of California. Sometimes we face significant challenges along the way. The recent Administration of the California Bar exam comes to mind.

As you know, the California Supreme Court and the Legislature share an important partnership concerning oversight of the State Bar, with the court managing licensing and disciplinary functions and the Legislature setting the attorney licensing fee and auditing the bar's governance and finances over the past three years.

In light of high profile failures to address attorney misconduct, we've both implemented reforms to address attorney accountability and improve the State Bar's operations. The Court has implemented conflict of interest screening for key positions within the State Bar. We've implemented transparency measures to ensure that seated bar leaders annually disclose conflicts of interest.

And we've approved a new rule of professional conduct that requires attorneys to report other attorneys for serious acts of misconduct. And the Legislature undertook its important role in auditing the agency's disciplinary system and finances, updating the agency's disqualification standards and creating a diversion program for for lesser violations of attorney misconduct.

And this partnership will continue as we investigate the failures surrounding the Administration of the Bar last month.

We understand the high stakes that are involved for students who want to pursue a career and their dream really of being part of the legal profession, for those who dream of assisting others, dedicating their talents and skills for that purpose for those who need the financial stability and the Independence that will come from the jobs that depend on their ability to pass the exam.

It's literally life changing for many students. The additional stress, frustration and anxiety faced by some examinees is inexcusable. For all those who had to endure these failures, I want to assure you that that our Court will exercise its plenary authority to implement appropriate remedies to help mitigate the harm.

In response to these unfortunate circumstances, the Court plans to enhance oversight over admissions, including the role of the Committee of Bar Examiners to ensure high standards and improve the Administration of Future Bar Exams.

Even before the founding of our State Bar, the Court depended on the Committee of Bar Examiners to set high standards for entrance into the practice of law. But in recent years, the examiner's role has been diminished.

I intend to explore restoring the examiner's importance in these matters by increasing their oversight of the admissions process, including its budget and the Administration of the Bar exam.

Just as we trust examiners to develop and enforce high standards to become an attorney, we should also entrust them to develop and and enforce high standards to determine whether a vendor can administer an online bar exam without incident.

Our applicants deserve a rigorous and thoughtful process for ensuring that they sit for an exam that fairly measures their legal skills. We hope that these students who pass the bar will all succeed, and as they do so, we hope that they will commit to providing pro Bono services to the most vulnerable among us.

Nonprofits and pro Bono providers can help ensure that Low income Californians have access to essential civil legal services.

Like all pro Bono providers, they should have our support and the freedom to represent those in need of their legal services without fear of retribution or unwarranted criticism which threatens to have a children effect on the nature of the work they're willing to undertake.

I would also like to address the considerable stress, anxiety and confusion surrounding the issue of immigration policies and enforcement as they relate to our courts. The Federal Government, of course, has the right and obligation to do its job, but it cannot, consistent with the 10th Amendment, compel states to enforce federal immigration law.

You have all passed laws making this clear, including SB54 regarding the sharing of certain information with immigration officials and AB668, which codifies the common law privilege against civil arrest in courthouses in California without a judicial warrant.

These laws have been upheld against various challenges and in fact, Federal Government's own guidance document recognizes some of these important limitations, specifying that such civil immigration enforcement actions should not occur in jurisdictions like California which prevent it.

None of this means that state officials or judicial officers have any intent to violate federal laws that prevent anyone from concealing, harboring or shielding from detection those who are in our country illegally, particularly those who commit violent felonies. Rather, we can all perform our independent obligations consistent with our constitutional mandates in support of the rule of law.

The Federal Government can focus on federal immigration enforcement within the confines of the Constitution, local officials can focus on local public safety, and our court can focus on providing access to justice to every single person who comes before us.

It is within our purview to ensure that all Members of the public can freely and safely access our state courts to safeguard individual rights and to promote the fair and timely Administration of justice. We will safeguard our authority and responsibility to do so.

So I will close now with the same General thoughts that I open with this year. The judicial Branch remains steadfast in its commitment to provide fair and impartial justice in accordance with our constitutional obligations.

And as we do so, whether we're talking about our financial operations, key issues and programs of mutual interest, or broader issues of public concern, I look forward with energy, enthusiasm and commitment to working collaboratively with you as we continue to serve the public. Thank you for your attention.

Madam Chief Justice, thank you for those wonderful remarks to our Associate Justices. Thank you for your work each and every day on behalf of the State of California. To the Justices and judges who are here from every corner of this great state, thank you for your dedication to the people of California.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate and Assembly, to all of our esteemed guests who are here in the chambers today, thank you for your attendance. We are grateful that you attended the 2025 State of Judiciary. We're grateful for the Senators and Assembly Members for your work on behalf of the communities that you so proudly represent. Represent.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Assembly, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, the Joint Convention of the California Legislature stands adjourned. Thank you so much.

Sa.