Information Technology Advisory Committee Library
This is the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) library. Here you will find the Strategic and Tactical Plans for Technology, reports submitted to ITAC from its workstreams and subcommittees; reports and resources on technology-related initiatives; and other resources that fall under ITAC’s subject matter area.
Strategic Plan for Court Technology (2019 – 2022)
The council adopted an update to the judicial branch’s Strategic Plan for Technology. The plan establishes a roadmap for technology solutions that will enhance electronic access to court services and information. Plans for the “digital court,” will not only allow courts to operate more efficiently but will significantly broaden access to the courts for litigants, lawyers, justice partners, and the public. View Video
Tactical Plan for Technology (2021-2022)
At its May 12, 2021 meeting, the Judicial Council approved an update to the judicial branch’s tactical plan, which focuses on enhancing electronic access to courts and court services, and promoting more efficient business practices. The plan identifies specific initiatives the judicial branch is pursuing, in areas such as case management systems, electronic records, remote video appearances, language access services, online dispute resolution, security, and data analytics. Full report, presentation and video from the March 12, 2021, Judicial Council meeting.
Court Technology Governance and Strategic Plan
Prepared by the Technology Planning Task Force
Effective August 2014 and Revised effective October 2014
- Executive Summary
- Governance and Funding Model
- Strategic Plan (Current 2019-2022 version)
- Tactical Plan (Current 2019-2020 version)
ITAC prepares status reports summarizing efforts currently underway, per its annual agenda These are published in alignment with ITAC regular business meetings.
Latest Status Report
Advancing Access to Justice Through Technology: Guiding Principles for California Judicial Branch Initiatives
Approved by the Judicial Council August 2012. Prepared by the committee’s Outreach Subcommittee.
The Information Technology Advisory Committee's Data Analytics Workstream final report on Data and Information Governance Policy Concepts was approved by the Judicial Council at its May 21, 2021, meeting. This report is the final work product of the workstream, which was charged with recommending a data analytics strategy for the branch that included developing branchwide data and information governance policy recommendations. The policy concepts will lay the foundation for future policy development and will help execute a new vision for data analytics in the judicial branch: to analyze, use, and share data to inform decision-making in order to enhance and expand vital and accessible services for all the people of California.
Data Exchange Workstream
The Data Exchange Workstream was established to develop standardized approaches to case management system (CMS) interfaces and data exchanges with critical state justice partners. On May 8, 2017, the Judicial Council Technology Committee approved the workstream’s final report and recommendations, including the establishment of a continuing Data Exchange Working Group. ITAC receives annual updates on the governance working group’s activities:
Fiscal Year 2018-2019
Fiscal Year 2017-2018
Disaster Recovery (DR) Framework Guide and Toolkit
At its March 2, 2018 meeting, the Judicial Council approved—effective immediately—a Judicial Branch Disaster Recovery Framework Guide to help any judicial branch entity with the various processes necessary to plan and implement a disaster recovery strategy. Additionally, the council supported the initiation of a pilot program to test the framework and adopted the following tools for use by the courts:
Full report, presentation, and agenda item from the March 2, 2018 Judicial Council meeting.
Disaster Recovery to Cloud Roadmap
ITAC formed the Disaster Recovery Phase II workstream to leverage the Court Innovation Grant awarded to the Superior Court of Monterey County to pilot the Disaster Recovery Framework Guide and Toolkit
and modernize the approach to implementing disaster recovery using cloud-based technologies.
The Phase II Workstream completed its objectives with the approval of the Disaster Recovery to Cloud (DR2C) Roadmap by the Technology Committee on April 12, 2021. The DR2C Roadmap validates, builds, and expands on some of the concepts and technologies documented in the Disaster Recovery Framework. It is intended to serve as a reference for courts interested in establishing a new disaster recovery program or in refreshing their existing program using emerging technologies, including cloud-based solutions.
Electronic Filing Standards and Policies on Electronic Filing Managers
The Judicial Council approved, effective July 1, 2016, technical information exchange standards for e-filing and directed ITAC to develop a plan for implementation of these standards. Full report, presentation, and agenda item from June 24, 2016 Judicial Council meeting.
Identity & Access Management
The judicial branch has been rapidly implementing digitally driven processes and enabling information sharing to meet increasing expectations and a growing reliance on digital access to court information. Acknowledging these important changes, ITAC initiated the Identity and Access Management Workstream to explore and make recommendations related to providing and safeguarding access to court information. At its January 20, 2022, meeting, the Judicial Council approved the workstream’s three recommendations, all of which support the overarching goal to increase access to justice. The recommendations outline a common framework for courts that participate to provide a uniform way for the public, attorneys, court partners, and others to access online court information and services across California.
Information Systems Controls Framework: "How to Use" Guide and Checklist
Approved by the Judicial Council Technology Committee and ITAC. Prepared by the ITAC Information Security Framework Workstream October 2015. Full report to the Judicial Council, October 8, 2015
In 2017, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye directed ITAC to to explore and make recommendations related to the use of intelligent chat technology to facilitate informational and self-help services for the public. The report presents a comprehensive business case for the use of chatbots – where a person would interact with an automated system on a website to ask questions and receive information, for informational and self-help services. The report provides background research on the current state of chat technology, outlines key findings and deliverables, and sets forth recommendations for the use of intelligent chat to benefit court customers.
Report; Presentation slides; Video
The Intelligent Forms Workstream was charged with investigating options for modernizing the electronic format and delivery of Judicial Council forms. The workstream presented its final recommendations to ITAC on April 30, 2018, and to the Judicial Council Technology Committee on May 23, 2018.
ITAC’s IT Community Development Workstream has concluded its efforts. The workstream's final report was approved by ITAC on April 20, 2020, and by the Technology Committee on May 11, 2020. The workstream focused on the people side of technology advancement and adoption for the judicial branch. This includes leveraging technical staff resources to implement and support technology; what staff and judges need to know in order to use new technology; and how collaboration tools can be used to share experiences and promote innovation.
IT Community Development Workstream Report
Next-Generation Hosting Framework Guide and Toolkit
At its March 2, 2018 meeting, the Judicial Council approved—effective immediately—a Judicial Branch Next-Generation Hosting Framework Guide and associated tools, to provide guidance to court leadership in planning their transitions to next-generation hosting solutions. Additionally, the following tools accompany the guide to assist courts in their transitions:
- A list of service level hosting recommendations
- A court data center inventory and service levels template
- A budget roadmap planning template
Full report, presentation, and agenda item from the March 2, 2018 Judicial Council meeting.
Online Dispute Resolution
The Online Dispute Resolution Workstream was tasked by the Judicial Council’s Information Technology Advisory Committee with developing a roadmap for courts interested in pursuing online dispute resolution (ODR). Specifically, the workstream’s focus was on
- providing a summary of the ODR landscape;
- summarizing the outcomes of court-offered ODR programs;
- defining practice areas and potential applications for ODR in the judicial branch;
- developing guiding principles and key considerations when making plans for ODR; and
- listing rules and statutes that may need to be amended or drafted.
This report provides the workstream’s analysis of the current state of ODR as used in courts across the United States and makes recommendations that would facilitate continued efforts.
Following a VRI pilot conducted in 2018 in Merced, Sacramento and Ventura Superior Courts, the Judicial Council on March 15, 2019, approved updated Language Access Plan guidelines for video remote interpreting (VRI) that include recommended minimum technology guidelines to facilitate its use. The council also voted to create a new VRI program for the judicial branch to expand LEP court user access to qualified interpreters. Guidelines. Report. Slideshow. News Release.
May 21, 2021: The Judicial Council approved the Recommended Guidelines and Minimum Specifications for Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) for Spoken Language-Interpreted Events
(VRI Guidelines), which have been updated to support VRI in both physical and virtual courtrooms and to provide guidance to courts and the public to ensure that remote interpreting allows limited English proficient court users to fully and meaningfully participate in court proceedings.
Remote Video Appearances in Most Noncriminal Proceedings (September 2020)
In 2017, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye directed ITAC to “consider, for presentation to the Judicial Council, the feasibility of and resource requirements for developing and implementing a pilot project to allow remote appearances by parties, counsel, and witnesses for most noncriminal court proceedings.” The Remote Video Workstream focused on the people side of technology advancement and adoption for the judicial branch. This includes leveraging technical staff resources to implement and support technology; what staff and judges need to know in order to use new technology; and how collaboration tools can be used to share experiences and promote innovation. The workstream presented its final report to the Judicial Council on September 25, 2020; the report includes a Key Considerations Guide for Early Adopters of Video Appearances in California Courts, which provides a summary of key questions a court should use as a guide when allowing video appearances:
Report; Presentation slides; Video
Survey & Findings: Video Remote Technology in California Courts (December 2014)
This survey on courtroom use of Video Remote Technology (VRT) was conducted by the committee’s Projects Subcommittee to ascertain the extent to which VRT has actually been used, or is currently being used, by California judicial officers.
Voice-to-Text Language Services Outside the Courtroom
The Voice-to-Text Language Services Outside the Courtroom Workstream was tasked by the Judicial Council’s Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) to explore available technologies to assist limited-English-proficient (LEP) customers at service counters and in self-help centers. The workstream’s efforts were informed by recommendations of the Commission on the Future of California’s Court System that the judicial branch pilot technology solutions allow “two individuals who speak different languages to converse without the assistance of an interpreter.”
Judicial Council Report; Presentation Slides; Demonstration; Video