Response to Legislative Analyst's Office Report

Contact: Lynn Holton, Public Information Officer, 415-865-7740

Sept 30, 2011

Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Issues Statement on LAO Report

 San Francisco—In response to requests for comments, Chief Justice of California Tani Cantil-Sakauye today issued a statement on the report of the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released earlier this week. The report, entitled “Completing the Goals of Trial Court Realignment,” is posted online .

The Chief Justice is chair of the Judicial Council, the policymaking body of state courts and the constitutional agency responsible for improving the administration of state trial and appellate courts. A statement was also issued by Justice Douglas Miller, chair of the Judicial Council’s Executive and Planning Committee. Both statements appear below.

Statement by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye: “The LAO report has appropriately engendered much discussion within the branch. And the Judicial Council, when it contemplates action, will, as with any significant concept affecting the branch, marshal the facts, seek input and deliberate inclusively.

“It is critical to point out, however, that the Judicial Council, under new leadership, has been addressing branch governance issues all year—we’ve initiated and encouraged dialogue and communication within the branch, and instituted changes as suggested by judges and others and we are planning more changes.

“In this fiscal environment, however, we have more immediate concerns. By necessity, the Judicial Council has been laser focused on budget matters. Ensuring public access to courts by restoring the judicial branch budget remains our main concern at this time and for the foreseeable future.”

Statement by Court of Appeal Justice Douglas Miller: “The report by the Legislative Analyst is very interesting and something that all of the Judicial Council members should be aware of. I plan to ask our Executive and Planning Committee—which sets the agenda for Judicial Council meetings—to set aside some time at our next educational meeting on October 27 to receive a brief explanation about the report.”

-#-