Access & Fairness Reports & Publications

Judicial Council Advisory Committee Reports:

Access to the California State Courts: A Survey of Court Users, Attorneys, and Court Personnel (January 1997)
Results from the subcommittee's investigation into the accessibility of the judicial system to persons with disabilities and chronic medical conditions.
Public Hearings Report: Access for Persons With Disabilities (February 1996)
Findings for the public hearings of the subcommittee's multiphase research program related to the availability of the judicial system to persons with disabilities and chronic medical conditions.
Summary of Survey and Public Hearing Reports of the Access for Persons With Disabilities Subcommittee of the California Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee (March 1997)
Summary of the survey to identify and address issues related to the accessibility of the judicial system to persons with apparent and non-apparent disabilities and those with chronic medical conditions and to determine additional necessary accommodations. Also available in PDF.

Achieving Equal Justice for Women and Men in the California Courts (July 1996)
Final report and recommendations of the subcommittee from its investigation of gender bias in the courts.
Gender and Justice: Implementing Gender Fairness in the Courts (July 1996)
The committee's report on collaborative efforts that have resulted in progress toward implementing the original 68 gender-fairness proposals adopted by the Judicial Council in 1990.

Report on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts (January 1997)
Executive Summary
Final report of the Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts, investigating the treatment of racial and ethnic minorities in the state courts, public perceptions of fairness or its lack, and recommendations on reforms.
Fairness in the California State Courts: A Survey of the Public, Attorneys, and Court Personnel (December 1993)
The Judicial Council's Advisory Committee on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts' final report on its opinion research of the treatment of ethnic and racial minorities in the state courts, public perceptions of fairness or lack of fairness in the judicial system, and recommendations on reforms.

Sexual Orientation Fairness in the California Courts (January 2001)
Final Report of the Subcommittee on Sexual Orientation Fairness of the Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee, investigating the treatment of gay and lesbian legal professionals, court employees, and court users in the state courts, public perceptions of fairness or its lack, and recommendations on reforms.
[Appendixes]
Appendixes to the Final Report of the Subcommittee on Sexual Orientation Fairness of the Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee, including focus group summaries, findings, references, and recommendations. Includes consultants' report.

For Persons With Disabilities Requesting Accommodations: Questions and Answers About Rule of Court 1.100 for Court Users (2016)
Developed by the Judicial Council Access and Fairness Advisory Committee
Disability Etiquette: Interacting With Persons With Disabilities (2009)
Produced by the Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee to provide information on general etiquette when interacting with persons with disabilities.
May I Help You? Legal Advice vs. Legal Information: A Resource Guide for Court Clerks (2003)
This quick reference, developed by the Judicial Council Access and Fairness Advisory Committee, is intended for use by court staff who provide telephone and counter assistance.
Child Care Resource Guide and Roster for Court Employees (May 2002)
Produced by the Access and Fairness Advisory Committee to assist court employees with meeting their child care needs.
Guidelines for Judicial Officers: Avoiding the Appearance of Bias (August 1996)
Produced by the Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Access and Fairness with the assistance of the Orange County Bar Association Gender Equity Committee.