Comments Sought:

10 new proposals have been posted to the California Courts website, at 

http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm

Judicial Branch Technology

 

W25-01

 

Judicial Branch Technology: Rules for Adoption of Technology and Data Security Guidelines

Summary: The Court Executives Advisory Committee (CEAC) and the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) propose amending one rule and adopting one rule to create a process for adopting and revising technology and data security guidelines for the courts and the Judicial Council. This proposal originated with the Joint Information Security Governance Subcommittee, which reviews and recommends security-related guidelines, policies, and other proposals for action by ITAC and CEAC.

 

Appellate and Civil and Small Claims

 

W25-02

 

CEQA Actions: New Projects and Fees for Expedited Review

Summary: The Appellate Advisory Committee and the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee recommend amending California Rules of Court for the expedited resolution of actions and proceedings brought under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As mandated by the Legislature, the Judicial Council previously adopted rules and established procedures to implement a statutory scheme for the expedited resolution of actions and proceedings brought under CEQA challenging certain projects that qualified for such streamlined procedures. This proposal amends several rules to implement recent legislation requiring inclusion of specified additional projects and removal of certain other projects for streamlined review. The committees also recommend the amendment of two rules to implement statutory provisions requiring that, for the new category of projects, the council, by rule of court, establish fees to be paid by project applicants to the courts for the additional costs of streamlined CEQA review.

 

Civil and Small Claims

 

W25-03

 

Civil Practice and Procedure: Termination of Complex Coordination Proceedings and Actions

Summary: The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending California Rules of Court, rule 3.545 and adopting rule 3.546 to modify the procedures courts must follow when terminating coordinated actions and to specify procedures for terminating coordination proceedings. This proposal aims to address procedural concerns first raised by a superior court judge who has managed numerous coordination proceedings.

 

Criminal Law

 

W25-04

 

Criminal Law: Felony Plea Form

Summary: The Criminal Law Advisory Committee proposes adding two new advisements to the felony plea form in light of recent case law and Proposition 36 (“The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act”) approved by voters in the General Election on November 5, 2024. The committee also recommends clarifying language about the factual basis for the plea.

 

W25-05

 

Criminal Law: New Postconviction Retail Crime Restraining Order

Summary: The Criminal Law Advisory Committee proposes a new retail crime restraining order to implement Assembly Bill 3209 (Stats. 2024, ch. 169). The order would prohibit defendants convicted of specified offenses from entering the premises of a protected retail establishment for up to two years.

 

Family and Juvenile Law

 

W25-06

 

Juvenile Law: Restitution Orders

Summary: Assembly Bill 1186 (Bonta; Stats. 2024, ch. 805) amended provisions of the Penal Code and the Welfare and Institutions Code regarding restitution liability in criminal and juvenile court, including eliminating joint and several liability for co-offending children in juvenile delinquency cases. The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes revising the restitution order and instructions forms to delete joint and several liability for juvenile co-offenders, address restitution apportionment in juvenile court orders, and clarify the liability of others who may be ordered to pay restitution in criminal and juvenile proceedings. In addition, the committee proposes revisions to allow for use of the order when a child under informal supervision has stipulated to restitution.

 

Protective Orders

 

W25-07

 

Protective Orders: New Civil Retail Crime Restraining Order

Summary: The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee proposes amending three California Rules of Court, adopting six Judicial Council forms for mandatory use, and approving two information sheets in a new forms series to implement recent legislation creating a new civil retail crime restraining order.

 

Probate and Mental Health

 

W25-08

 

Rules and Forms: Additional CARE Act Legislation

Summary: The Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes amending three rules of court, adopting one form, approving two forms, revising three forms, adopting one standard of judicial administration, and renaming a title in the standards of judicial administration to implement recently enacted Senate Bills 42 (Stats. 2024, ch. 640), 1323 (Stats. 2024, ch. 646), and 1400 (Stats. 2024, ch. 647). The legislation amended both substantive and procedural aspects of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act. In addition, the committee also proposes revisions to certain forms in response to feedback from members of the public regarding the forms’ readability and ease of use.

 

W25-09

 

Probate Conservatorship and Guardianship: Notice of Change of Residence and Notice of Death

Summary: The Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes amending two rules of court andrevising six forms in response to recent legislation. Senate Bill 1106 (Stats. 2024, ch. 455)expands the duty of a conservator or guardian of the person to give notice before the change ofresidence of a conservatee or ward and requires a conservator to give notice, electronically ifpossible, of any arrangements they have made for a deceased conservatee’s funeral or similar memorial service. The proposed changes would also update the rules and forms to conform to other amendments to the law, including the statutory authorization of electronic delivery of notices and other papers in specified circumstances, as well as make technical, clarifying, and conforming changes.

 

W25-10

 

Decedents’ Estates: Succession to Real Property of Small Value

Summary: The Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee proposes revising two forms in response to recent legislation that changed the statutory procedure for claiming succession to real property by raising the maximum value of the property claimed to $750,000 and limiting the application of the procedure to succession to a decedent’s primary residence in California. The proposed form revisions would conform to these changes and make technical and formatting corrections.

 

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, January 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

You can sign up to judge by clicking HERE.

NEW - MCLE Credit Hours: The State Bar of California has recently approved a new measure to allow attorneys to get up to two (2) hours of participatory MCLE credit for serving as a volunteer judge at a mock trial competition. Each of our trials last up to three hours, so judging even one trial can both help our students AND help you earn two participatory credit hours. 

The trials: The trials are approximately three hours long and require no preparation. There will be two days of trials, both consisting of a morning round from ~9:00 to 12:00 PM and then an afternoon round from ~2:00 to 5:00 PM. Depending on your availability, you can judge as many or as few as you would like.

The case: This year’s case is a civil matter about the death of millionaire Avery Bancroft while aboard a train in Australia. Mr. Bancroft's adult child, Taylor Hopson, who was also onboard the train at the time, was set to inherit Bancroft's estate ($400+ million). Now, Shannon Shahid, who is Mr. Bancroft's only other child, has brought a Slayer Statute proceeding, alleging that Hospson caused their father's death and therefore cannot inherit. The evidence, charges and witnesses available vary across the rounds, which makes each trial unique and interesting to watch.

Judge orientation: Before each round, we will hold a 30-minute judge orientation session. In that session, we will explain how to judge the trials, how to score the trial ballot, and other logistics. No other preparation is needed to judge (i.e., you don’t need to read any part of the case ahead of time).

Judge check-in will open 30 minutes before the orientation session, making morning check-in at 8:00 AM and afternoon check-in at 1:00 PM each day. During both days of the trials, we will be providing bagels, coffee and lunch.

Here's the link to sign up for our tournaments this year: https://forms.gle/wHJb8vSWpH9din4o8

Attached please find newly adopted and amended rule(s) with the effective date of January 1, 2025. These rules were adopted by the Judicial Council at its September 20, 2024, business meeting. 

2024-09-20-rules-effective-01-01-2025.pdf

Judicial Branch Administration

SP24-12

Title: Judicial Branch Administration: Tactical Plan for Technology 2025–2026

Summary: California Rules of Court, rule 10.53(b)(8) (Link A) requires that the Information Technology Advisory Committee develop and recommend a tactical technology plan with input from the individual appellate and trial courts. The Information Technology Advisory Committee designated its Tactical Plan Workstream to develop the 2025–2026 tactical plan to outline the technology initiatives and projects that provide a road map for achieving the technology goals for the branch.

The Tactical Plan Workstream now seeks input on the draft Tactical Plan for Technology 2025–2026 (Attachment A) by December 9, 2024. Incorporating feedback from across the branch, our judicial partners, and the public is essential for the success of this plan.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Monday, December 09, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 Officers & Directors of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association!

https://conta.cc/3CdBnvr

The installation ceremony will be held during the OCWLA Holiday Reception & Installation Dinner on December 5, 2024. Join us in celebrating the dedication and leadership of our new board members.

The Central District of California is pleased to announce it will launch an Opt-Out Civil Consent to Magistrate Judges Program on December 1, 2024. Designed to relieve court congestion and utilize the breadth of the Central District’s Magistrate Judges’ expertise, this Program will assign a portion of the Court’s civil cases upon filing directly to a Magistrate Judge.

Please see the attached press release and notice from the clerk for additional information. They are also available on the Court’s website under News Announcements.

2024-11-01 Notice - New Opt Out Consent to MJ Program.pdf

2024-11-01 Press Release - Opt Out Consent to MJ Program.pdf

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to announce that will be soon be hiring for the position of Deputy District Attorney (DDA) I. The salary range for a DDA I is $6,384.64 - $8,603.36 Monthly, or $76,615.68 - $103,240.32 Annually.  The filing period for the DDA I Exam will begin at 8:00 a.m. PST on Monday, November 4, 2024 and will remain open until the needs of the Department are met.  Please note that this exam is subject to closure without notice.

Please send an email to any recent law school graduates or current Bar Association members who have successfully passed the California Bar Examination of this opportunity.  The examination bulletin will be posted soon and can be accessed on governmentjobs.com. The bulletin and job application will also be accessible at da.lacounty.gov. Go to the Contact tab (far right) and select “Employment.” The listing can be viewed under “Current Job Opportunities” which is the second section of the page. 

Veterans win back the West LA VA Campus

The court's ruling aims to significantly reduce veteran homelessness and improve access to medical care, though implementation faces bureaucratic challenges.

Read More: https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/381503-veterans-win-back-the-west-la-va-campus

Application deadline is December 31, 2024.  Selected applicants will receive training to the Straus Institute’s Mediation Training Program at Pepperdine University, meals, and boarding, as well as valuable mentorship with Judicate West neutrals.

For more info: https://judicatewest.com/misc/JW_Diversity_Scholarship_Program.pdf

This post is to inform you that three (3) new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court, and Judicial Council forms have been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm

COURT INTERPRETERS

SP24-09 

Title: Court Interpreters: Guidelines for Approval of Certification Programs for Interpreters for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons

Summary: The Court Interpreters Advisory Panel (CIAP) proposes revisions to the current Guidelines for Approval of Certification Programs for Interpreters for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons (Guidelines), and a certification program approval process that is more responsive to the interpreter marketplace and the testing and certification landscape. The CIAP’s revisions to the Guidelines are necessary to keep pace with the evolving interpreter marketplace and to address the shortage of certified American Sign Language (ASL) court interpreters to meet growing demands. Revisions are in alignment with CIAP’s annual agenda, and will allow for greater flexibility, encouraging the emergence of additional ASL court interpreter testing entities to meet the growing certification needs.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

SP24-10

Title: Court Interpreters: Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters

Summary: The Court Interpreters Advisory Panel proposes revisions to the Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters (fifth edition). These revisions are necessary to update

the document and address new ethical challenges in remote and hybrid interpreting, and interpreters conduct on social media. The ethics document is based on California Rules of Court, rule 2.890.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

TRAFFIC

SP24-11

Title: Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules: 2025 Edition

Summary: The Traffic Advisory Committee proposes revisions to the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, 2025 Edition, effective January 1, 2025. The 2025 proposal includes (1) recommendations based on legislation, as required under Vehicle Code section 40310 and Penal Code section 1269b; (2) recommended changes and additions proposed by courts and justice system partners; and (3)

miscellaneous technical changes.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Friday, November 1, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)