0168 - Judicial Branch

March 15, 2025

Overall Growth: 23.6% increase in positions from 2022-23 (1,734.2) to 2024-25 (2,144.2)
Recent Expansion: The 2024-25 budget authorizes 11.0 new positions (0.5% increase) compared to 2023-24
Major Staffing Initiatives:
- Judicial Council positions increased from 738.6 in 2022-23 to 979.6 in 2024-25 (32.6% growth)
- Courts of Appeal positions increased from 791.7 in 2022-23 to 917.3 in 2024-25 (15.9% growth)
- Habeas Corpus Resource Center positions increased from 57.8 in 2022-23 to 91.1 in 2024-25 (57.6% growth)

Total Budget Growth: 3.6% increase from 2022-23 ($4.92 billion) to 2024-25 ($5.10 billion)
General Fund Support: Increased from $3.12 billion in 2022-23 to $3.20 billion in 2024-25 (2.6% growth)
Trial Court Funding: Increased from $3.75 billion in 2022-23 to $4.03 billion in 2024-25 (7.6% growth)

The Judicial Branch receives funding from various sources, each designated by specific budgetCodes in the state budget:

0130 - Supreme Court: California's highest court, with final appellate jurisdiction
0135 - Courts of Appeal: Six appellate districts that review superior court decisions
0140 - Judicial Council: Administrative body that oversees the state's judicial system
0150 - State Trial Court Funding: Support for trial courts throughout California
0155 - Habeas Corpus Resource Center: Legal representation for indigent defendants in capital cases

0001 - General Fund: State's primary operating fund ($3.20 billion in 2024-25)
0932 - Trial Court Trust Fund: Primary funding source for trial courts ($1.32 billion in 2024-25)
3037 - State Court Facilities Construction Fund: For court construction and maintenance ($246.7 million in 2024-25)
3066 - Court Facilities Trust Fund: For operation and maintenance of court facilities ($104.0 million in 2024-25)
0995 - Reimbursements: Recovery of costs from other entities ($182.6 million in 2024-25)
0159 - State Trial Court Improvement and Modernization Fund: For trial court improvements ($20.7 million in 2024-25)

Major Projects and Initiatives

The Judicial Branch maintains an active capital outlay program to address infrastructure needs across California's court system:

Courthouse Construction Program: Ongoing initiative to replace outdated and unsafe courthouses throughout the state.
Facility Modification Program: Addresses critical needs in existing court facilities, including security upgrades, ADA compliance, and building system replacements.
Seismic Renovation Program: Focuses on courthouses with the highest seismic risk ratings to ensure public safety.

The Judicial Branch is implementing several technology initiatives to improve access to justice and court operations:

Case Management System Modernization: Replacing legacy case management systems with modern, integrated solutions that enable electronic filing and case processing.
Remote Court Proceedings: Expanding video conferencing capabilities for hearings and proceedings, building on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Self-Help Technology: Developing online self-help tools and resources to assist self-represented litigants in navigating court processes.

The Judicial Branch is committed to ensuring equal access to justice for all Californians:

Language Access Program: Expanding court interpreter services and translated materials to assist limited English proficient court users.
Self-Help Centers: Supporting self-help centers in courthouses throughout the state to assist self-represented litigants.
Court-Based Mental Health Programs: Implementing specialized programs to address the needs of court users with mental health issues.

The Judicial Branch operates with a hierarchical structure established by the California Constitution:

Supreme Court: The state's highest court, consisting of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices who review appellate court decisions and exercise original jurisdiction in specific cases.
Courts of Appeal: Six appellate districts with 106 justices who review superior court decisions.
Superior Courts: Trial courts in each of California's 58 counties, with approximately 1,700 judges who handle criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, and other cases.
Judicial Council: The constitutional administrative body chaired by the Chief Justice that establishes policies and sets priorities for the judicial branch. The Council includes:
- Chief Justice (Chair)
- 14 judicial officers appointed by the Chief Justice
- 4 attorney members appointed by the State Bar
- 1 member from each house of the Legislature
Administrative Office of the Courts: Staff agency of the Judicial Council that provides administrative support to the courts and implements Judicial Council policies.

Budget Development: The Judicial Council develops the branch budget request, which is submitted to the Governor for inclusion in the state budget.
Legislative Appropriation: The Legislature reviews the budget request and makes appropriations through the annual Budget Act.
Trial Court Funding Allocation: The Judicial Council allocates funding to trial courts based on the Workload-Based Allocation and Funding Methodology (WAFM), which considers factors such as filings, case complexity, and local costs.
Capital Outlay Prioritization: Court construction projects are prioritized based on need, with factors including security, overcrowding, physical condition, and access to court services.
Special Fund Allocations: Dedicated funds such as the State Court Facilities Construction Fund and Court Interpreters Fund are allocated for specific purposes as defined by statute.