[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6581448,"mediaKeyId","3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c","parentId",3129009,"title","Legal Services Trust Fund Commission reports growth in grants, highlights homelessness prevention and CARE Court funding","audioSeconds",961,"startMs",8399000,"endMs",9360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c&start=8399&end=9360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c/thumbnail_8399000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6581448/California/Legal-Services-Trust-Fund-Commission-reports-growth-in-grants-highlights-homelessness-prevention-and-CARE-Court-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581448-82502051edf0b09576f3c8ad7e2951ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495498&Signature=ov3vXkE19zwexVlX64MvD1CSF9p9ld5FsX72z7VhdUrJmzMJYiKJFsTQS~ZL31Nde2CNEJtEAF8-4lZ2J-k2vFyqe5P4X6jBj8UKaoYyHZNpRyyPnr5b9lPizm3UlweY0CwZkSuqBa5KjepekbfxyNabijBFsc~zVQFzDch0GsF1natk7ozHyaJ3bD~Ofbcn7WOrrU-lDm7Hp2wSwoOKjvYYmTwL8GlJGryDXWTGw2LuNRquW~bkw2EF~s9rdfcA48BZlu-9NtLnrW1dlR5jVrjGIbzOcmsghniALcph8KuFkkw0hr0Ix0VjMrICP4j3eMbDA3Sw2TWMrkT-~GQO5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Judicial Council of California","date","2025-04-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Judicial Council received an overview April 25 of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission's grant programs and strategic priorities. Erica Connolly (co-chair) and Duann Nguyen (program director, State Bar Office of Access and Inclusion) reported substantial growth in grant administration and highlighted programs focused on housing, family law, domestic violence and immigration assistance.

Connolly and Nguyen described a portfolio of 10 grant programs that in 2024 provided roughly $200 million to about 110 nonprofit legal aid organizations and public defender offices, including $127 million in core funding distributed via the IOLTA-based formula. For 2025, the commission reported administering approximately $313 million to 115 nonprofit and public defender grantees, including roughly $283 million in core funding.

The presenters described partnership grants (equal-access partnership projects with trial courts) that fund local clinics and workshops to assist self-represented litigants (about 32,000 litigant assists and 1,800 workshops per year). They also highlighted the CARE Court grants (planning grants in 2023 and subsequent allocations to legal providers and public defenders) and the homelessness-prevention grants (initial $20 million in 2019 and subsequent renewals), noting the homelessness funding stream ended in December and that some programs have had to reduce services or lay off attorneys. Across equal-access fund grants in 2023, grantees reported more than 28,000 attorney-client assists and more than 620 attorneys funded.

Commission staff said they continue convenings, technical assistance, and partnerships with the Judicial Council and trial courts and will report further on outcomes and program needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judicial Council of California - Judicial Council Meeting - April 25, 2025 - Apr 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission told the Judicial Council that grant funding has expanded substantially in recent years, with the commission administering roughly $313 million in 2025 to legal aid and public defender programs and highlighting homelessness-prevention, CARE Court and equal-access partnership grants.","taxTitle","Judicial Council of California, Judicial, California","taxId",73876,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581452,"Council reviews jury instructions, implicit-bias guidance and juror experience improvements",3047,5593000,8640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c&start=5593&end=8640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c/thumbnail_5593000.jpg","/articles/6581452/California/Council-reviews-jury-instructions-implicit-bias-guidance-and-juror-experience-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581452-3ad775ac04507243333d7a5e21f0ffe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495498&Signature=ZUnbX8lKOV1m6SRCFEEMCEYlGU5sr2Y1trX2gn9h77x3orlMnddD5SM4qaln~9nQH3oUMaopE1l1ipmSRFJN~x5dGUoHPABHgaAzRjpi74tBO0d-DVMX9zYWpSayTJshfCC~i7YRXnHTtlMIKi~SWDg0EB9Nn1YovgmdlLo0jyqum3f~j6PRBTn0BH4naxLJg6jh8UhAge6~BXRlUu-v5BZbWOzF8cX9kebnUzOr3UrF4ySBsSRG0XyciPByxoU-D3EkPDkvP31GyNfAMRYRO1YcGzMQuhDXnbvSlGqX3qxewo8LXV0jYDpKPxPAewSHx9CRBKjTcXTwDN0vVqu7MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judicial Council heard updates April 25 on jury instructions, implicit-bias guidance and multiple initiatives to improve the juror experience, including updated plain-language instructions (KC and CALCRIM), a new implicit-bias instruction series, orientation videos, and jury-compensation pilot work.

Justice Adrian Grover (Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions) described the plain-language evolution from older, legalistic formulations to KC and CALCRIM instructions and explained the committees' iterative release process (twice yearly; public comment). Presenters gave examples of language revisions that replace legalese with direct, person-first phrasing to improve comprehension for jurors and self-represented litigants.

Judge Jeffrey Ross summarized the committee's approach to an implicit-bias instruction developed with input from social-science experts; the instruction alerts jurors to unconscious bias, offers concrete deliberation tools (reflect on evidence; consider whether impressions would differ by age, race, gender, disability, accent; invite others' perspectives), and aims to educate without producing backlash.

Court executive representatives highlighted operational juror-experience improvements: a simplified postcard summons with QR capability, updated juror orientation videos (including an implicit-bias companion video), staggered reporting times, online juror portals, Zelle-based electronic per-diem payments pilot, improved jury assembly facilities, and the AB 1981 pilot studying increased juror compensation to improve diversity and participation. Presenters said early local reports suggest the compensation pilot may reduce hardship requests in lower-income counties; the Judicial Council will report results to the Legislature in September 2026.","Advisory committees reported on ongoing plain-language work for KC and CALCRIM instructions, new implicit-bias jury guidance, and multiple juror-experience initiatives including orientation videos, per-diem pilot programs and online services for jurors.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581457,"Council adopts branch tactical plan for technology, adds emerging-technology initiative",1224,4776000,6000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c&start=4776&end=6000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c/thumbnail_4776000.jpg","/articles/6581457/California/Council-adopts-branch-tactical-plan-for-technology-adds-emerging-technology-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581457-12977f37eaed8269ac6924c0fa391730/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495498&Signature=HtxiG59FJ37zdfICVNON8Jm1tISnRy57nwndWeX0sB5LVpY~OHESPctoFMpcU8voB1HDV6gtOoKVohyN8icSe9681-A~9TAjOjHbMtAN98vMzDDJBK~8RxjHon-hE8RIa1or9GhV83-v8hL-pp-GCbzn1w9XLSQ6kMI9P8qNZrZlZG6G0diuMAtI47vxwIT9XmREJ61Hqcz-Vcl1wA3wL0oA~DkugxnfGiyaY0C7y17jMKz4TdZH3ZJjxIcdALbQ5UaOkjttFPapnfFO-EGXmR8bHL9Qulbqst~Jj-mTgBy-eBz-9VbM-MeMrX4xw6eYrFUkO89PWJo6iFnq5WOsnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judicial Council approved an updated two-year tactical plan for technology that reaffirms ongoing branch priorities (digital core, expanded online services, information security) and establishes a new emerging-technology initiative to evaluate responsible, branch-wide uses of tools such as artificial intelligence.

Presenters from the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) said the plan narrows the tactical focus to initiatives with the broadest branch impact and the greatest operational or financial value. The plan groups initiatives into five pillars: foundational systems, integrations, public and partner services, data, and security and infrastructure. ITAC highlighted three priorities: electronic evidence management (more courts reporting pilots but most still in early stages), a sustained branch-wide information security program, and a new initiative to pilot and evaluate emerging technologies (aligned to the Chief Justice's AI task force).

ITAC said 13 trial courts reported progress on electronic evidence management (up from 5 in 2023), emphasising the need for branch guidance and potential branch-wide agreements. The committee also described branch progress on cybersecurity governance and readiness and noted a range of court-level proposals to use AI to improve operations in the IT modernization program. The council approved the tactical plan, which ITAC will use to guide project selection, advocacy, and funding requests.","The Judicial Council approved a 2025-26 tactical plan for technology that sustains existing initiatives (electronic evidence management, branch-wide information security, digital core) and explicitly adds an emerging-technology program to explore responsible adoption of AI and related tools.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581462,"Judicial Council approves updated Resource Assessment Study (RAS) case weights after 2024 time study",1691,3399000,5090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c&start=3399&end=5090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c/thumbnail_3399000.jpg","/articles/6581462/California/Judicial-Council-approves-updated-Resource-Assessment-Study-RAS-case-weights-after-2024-time-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581462-3927e7535da16b0f7615193b4a53b0ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495498&Signature=TD7tQHULaCbQow~vHkKgzlJ9GQNvavLP5rDwkllAUBcK2moPymupH5QeVw~bHgwSL6-K4r4Lj~WdHpZM1KBGAYW2ddaFapBKDio~~00JL8v0CCSNPcP6Xg8b7NH3LhRiK9hE3toJmKvK2q4KiphsOLYAn80UnFOJ~TPN1x3kW0JMEWmHiDx92Xm10tGE1UyLZOBHxkD5ABwk97yok9UesnPCk7EZIbn28b63oMLMKHf2OKacORfmLj2EcwqI4N3lEe~i5Ur1kU3X46Z9iKK07MpLLAPfkufAcguGGhOr8JKPzwW2VCiUquW7cn3cb7KnddiOYZX4T7pLS1-7h0TopQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judicial Council on April 25 approved updates to the Resource Assessment Study (RAS) model, including new and revised case weights derived from a 2024 time study and related model parameter changes to be used in the fiscal 2025' 26 workload formula.

Judge Heather Hinrichs (chair of the Data Analytics Advisory Committee) and staff presented the findings. The study covered 19 trial courts representing small, medium and large jurisdictions and involved more than 5,000 court staff who logged time entries. Presenters said the time study captures case-processing time and non-case-processing tasks (for example, public-counter work and warrant processing) and that two new case weights were added: mental-health certification and CARE Act-related cases. The committee also recommended consolidating two infraction case weights into a single infraction weight after finding no workload difference by filing volume.

Staff reported the work-year value decreased by approximately 585 minutes (about 9.75 hours) compared with the prior study, reflecting a newly added state holiday and a modest increase in annual leave usage. Presenters emphasized a key study finding: unweighted filing volumes do not equal workload; weighted caseload methodology better captures workload complexity. The committee also noted increases in case complexity across many case types (courts cited post-judgment resentencing, the Racial Justice Act, diversion programs, juvenile realignment and expanded domestic-violence restraining-order options) and called out staff turnover and training demands as additional workload impacts.

The council approved using the updated case weights and model parameters in the FY 2025' 26 workload and funding formula and directed the Data Analytics Advisory Committee to continue monitoring workload changes and to consider periodic interim adjustments if necessary.","The council approved updated weighted-caseload parameters based on a 2024 time study of court staff, including new case weights for mental-health certifications and CARE Act cases and an updated work-year value reflecting increased leave and an added holiday.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581467,"Judicial Council directs work to assess racial equity in adult collaborative courts",1723,1862000,3585000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c&start=1862&end=3585","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3129009-f855dc2ff8ec5ccdecc2d0166ce1803c/thumbnail_1862000.jpg","/articles/6581467/California/Judicial-Council-directs-work-to-assess-racial-equity-in-adult-collaborative-courts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581467-282f6fc079ac9eeb0a6536eb1530a44b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495498&Signature=bjv~VUuwyj~7-rHjj9KKIxp0LFuDKlt1-EDKlplYZIwAwW1pIH3fCUGTfliCmAeUoPglH3YhkRNbqomPrtWgbD261FAnV2qXIu7pzSVMQEP4rO0RcRdoi7RchQCKXnuUWwswU6pGOAAYYJdga3viKiYWp34fcGlYUesGyd0jYinNTpnhadtyLS-IiX~DXaKePAVpIF6OIoXoe~r4AHoF8D6r~kMxfCArWQbE3w0H8G8SNYbGNTaQXsa2r8HQQj23TyZvf5qva4be6eNaOs9eGRBCU3iBJYDtlOFPNDU0oq13TnbIw9C1tGelQl-91dlD7SQzRZCji0PSvd6h~ute2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Judicial Council on April 25 approved recommendations asking the council's collaborative courts advisory committee to lead efforts encouraging adult collaborative programs to assess and address racial disparities in participation, retention and outcomes.

The move, introduced by Associate Justice Charles A. Smiley and Veronica D. Lewis of the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee, follows a three-year effort that reviewed national best practices and state law, including Senate Bill 910 and related Health and Safety Code provisions. The committee recommended two formal actions: (1) direct the advisory committee to implement Priority 2 of its report, which pairs an equity-assessment tool with technical assistance for adult collaborative programs; and (2) direct the Judicial Council's collaborative justice services staff to help explore funding for a pilot program offering technical assistance to courts. Justice Smiley and Lewis described a four-priority framework in the committee's report and emphasized the recommendation would not add new costs to local courts.

The report highlighted an existing Alameda County management information system (MIS) adapted with federal grant funds to support data collection and evaluation consistent with ALL RISE (formerly NADCP) standards. Presenters said California has about 400 collaborative and diversion programs and that SB 910 requires adult collaborative courts to operate in accord with adult treatment court best practice standards, including equitable access.

Council members questioned scope and application. Judge Hernandez asked whether juvenile treatment courts had been considered; presenters said juvenile issues are addressed by a separate subcommittee and the advisory committee is mindful of extending models to less-resourced courts. Council members also clarified that national statistics shown in the report were national averages and acknowledged California lacks a statewide, uniform dataset. The council approved the recommendation without recorded opposition.

The advisory committee said next steps include promoting use of a nationally-recognized, free equity-assessment tool, piloting technical assistance funded through existing committee resources or grants, and reviewing whether existing authorities (California Rules of Court, Standards of Judicial Administration, and the Drug Court Programs Act) need targeted amendments to improve community engagement.

The advisory committee and Judicial Council staff will report back to the council as pilot planning proceeds.","The Judicial Council approved recommendations from its Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee to encourage adult collaborative courts to use equity assessment tools and technical assistance to address racial disparities, with the committee to implement a pilot using existing resources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Legal Services Trust Fund Commission reports growth in grants, highlights homelessness prevention and CARE Court funding

Council reviews jury instructions, implicit-bias guidance and juror experience improvements

Council adopts branch tactical plan for technology, adds emerging-technology initiative

Judicial Council approves updated Resource Assessment Study (RAS) case weights after 2024 time study

Judicial Council directs work to assess racial equity in adult collaborative courts