Court operations

Incorporate racial equity into your court’s strategic plan

• Judicial Branch Strategic Plan

  You can find best practices in Goal One: Access, Fairness, and Diversity of the plan.

• Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

  Transferable insights and tools that can help you understand what steps to take to ensure you're creating equitable opportunities for the populations you serve. From the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Make an official statement of racial justice

In response to the rise in race-based violence, racial injustice, and inequalities across our nation, the California Supreme Court released an updated statement on Equality and Inclusion in 2021. Since then, local courts across the nation have also released their own statements. Some courts have even gone a step further to create task forces and committees to address racial injustice and inequity in their local community. These resources can serve as a guide or example for your local community and court as well.

• Supreme Court of California: News Release- Statement on Equality and Inclusion 

• Los Angeles Superior Court:  Denouncing Recent Race-Based Violence

• Sacramento Superior Court: News Release -Response to the racial injustice and inequalities across our nation - Community Engagement and Fairness Committee 

Ensure the public knows how rules are created and the process to provide feedback on pending rules in the court. This contributes to racial justice because of procedural fairness.  

• Judicial Council Invitation to Comment 

•  Judicial Council Information Sheet- “How a Proposal Becomes a Rule” 

Develop remote access opportunities that increase access to justice for underserved communities

• Ad Hoc Workgroup on Post-Pandemic Initiatives

  To identify, refine, and enhance successful court practices that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to increase access to justice, modernize services, and promote uniformity in practices going forward.