Organizational Structure and Services

(Organization chart)

Executive Office—Has oversight responsibility for programs in furtherance of Judicial Council policies and priorities.

• Sets direction goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards
• Works to develop and implement appropriate strategies to meet the agency's needs
• Works with Judicial Council staff, the courts, the Legislature, the Governor's Office, and all other external stakeholders to coordinate and facilitate timely handling of judicial administration issues

Office of Governmental Affairs—Represents and advocates for the Judicial Council on legislative, policy, and budget matters. More

• Reviews all legislation, identifies bills of interest to the judicial branch, and assists the council's Policy Coordination and Liaison Committee in formulating positions on bills and budget issues on behalf of the Judicial Council
• Promotes effective communications within the judiciary and with groups such as the California Judges Association, the State Bar, legal services organizations, criminal justice agencies, county governments, the media, and the public

All other offices are grouped within three divisions:

Judicial Council and Court Leadership Services Division— The following offices report to the Chief of Staff:

• Internal Audit Services  More
  • Audits all entities within the judicial branch
  • Conducts risk assessments, develops audit programs, performs audits of judicial branch entities, and assists state and external auditors
  • Recommends improvements based on audit results, thereby playing a key role in meeting the branch's fiscal oversight responsibilities
  
  Judicial Council Support Services
  • Supports the council's Executive and Planning Committee in ensuring that council business meetings focus on well-planned and well-prepared policy issues
  • Supports the nomination process of council and advisory committee members
  • Maintains records of circulating orders and council member and advisory committee member appointments
  • Organizes orientations for council members and advisory committee chairs
  • Maintains the Judicial Council calendar and prepares minutes of council business meetings
  
  Legal Services Office
  • Manages litigation and provides legal advice to courts and to Judicial Council staff
  • Provides primary staff support to the Judicial Council's Rules and Projects Committee and to several advisory committees and task forces
  • Manages the California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms, and staffs other projects designed to improve court proceedings
  
  Office of Communications More
  • Informs judges, court management, justice partners, media, and the public about the work of the Judicial Council, recent actions, and issues that affect the state's court system
  • Supports the work of the council and the branch through communications planning and cost-effective outreach programs
  • Facilitates the use of online communications and judicial branch websites
  • Works to maintain and strengthen public trust and confidence in the state's judicial system
  
  Project Management Office
  • Supports large, high-level, diverse Judicial Council projects from concept to implementation by providing a formalized and rigorous project management approach that provides flexibility to meet unique needs of each project. 
  • Provides standardized tools and processes for managing larger, complex projects.
  
  Trial Court Liaison Office
  • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the trial courts in order to accomplish the strategic and operational goals of the Judicial Council

Judicial and Court Operations Services Division—The following offices report to the Chief Operating Officer:

• Center for Families, Children & the Courts  More
  • Serves to improve the quality of justice and services to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, parents, families, and other users of the California courts
  • Supports court programs designed to improve practice in family and juvenile law, as well as other areas, including collaborative justice, domestic violence, language access, treatment of mentally ill court users, services to self-represented litigants, and tribal projects
  
  Center for Judicial Education and Research
  • Serves as the educational arm of the state judicial system
  • Staff and volunteer subject matter experts and faculty provide both training and education for judges and judicial branch personnel
  
  Court Operations Special Services Office
  • Provides direct services, resources, and program support in the following areas: Administration and Planning; Assigned Judges Program; Court Language Access Support Program; Divisional Budgeting/Appellate Court Services; Court Research; Promising and Effective Programs; and Physical Security, Personal Security, and Emergency Planning
  
  Criminal Justice Court Services Office  More
  • Oversees and coordinates the Judicial Council's efforts related to community corrections, the 2011 Criminal Justice Realignment Act, and other criminal justice activities in order to improve operations and provide assistance to the courts, justice partners, and the public
  
  Judicial Branch Capital Program Office More
  • Provides strategic planning for capital outlay and funding
  • Manages new courthouse design, construction, and major renovation projects for California’s trial and appellate courts
  
  Office of Appellate Court Services
  • Facilitates and coordinates quality and timely service to the California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal
  • Provides lead staff support to the administrative presiding justices and clerk/administrators of the appellate courts

Judicial and Court Administrative Services Division—The following offices report to the Chief Administrative Officer:

• Fiscal Services Office  More
  • Provides fiscal, contract, and procurement services to the judicial branch consistent with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations
  • Provides direct assistance to the trial courts, including: budget management, development, and support; financial policies; centralized treasury system; and the collection of delinquent and non-delinquent court-ordered debt
  
  Human Resources Services Office
  • Provides human resource management services to California judicial branch employees and judicial officers
  • Assists the courts with labor and employee relations, mediation, training, recruitment, classification and compensation, benefits development, integrated disability management, policies, human resource information systems, and other related matters
  
  Information Technology Services Office
  • Assists the courts in achieving the Judicial Council's technology objectives
  • Develops and supports automated systems in the appellate courts and the Judicial Council
  • Supports the council's internal Technology Committee and Court Technology Advisory Committee and helps plan and coordinate technological developments in the trial courts
  
  Office of Administrative Services
  • Provides all Judicial Council divisions and offices with logistical support services, including: receptionist staff, mail and shipping, records management, document digitization, and copy and print production
  
  Office of Real Estate and Facilities Management  More
  • Manages the state judicial branch property portfolio for the courts
  • Oversees ongoing operational needs for more than 500 courthouses and other judicial branch facilities
  • Supports the council's Trial Court Facility Modification Advisory Committee and manages the facility modification program
  • Manages site selection and acquisition for capital projects
  
  Trial Court Administrative Services Office
  • Provides the trial courts with an integrated system of financial and human capital management services, including direct support of their day-to-day tasks
  • Manages the Phoenix Program, which provides transition assistance for trial courts moving from county stewardship to the judicial branch’s financial and human resources system (the Phoenix System) with a diverse range of services, including a centralized treasury system, accounting and financial services, trust accounting services, human capital management services, and core business analysis, training, and support
  • Developing a standard for integration with court Case Management systems to the Phoenix financial system. Integration Standards have been developed to facilitate the process.