Judicial Council to Consider Updated Court Workload Measures Based on Types of Cases Processed

SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its April 25 business meeting will consider revising its model for measuring court workload and assessing trial court staffing needs based on findings from a 2024 time study conducted in 19 courts across the state.

The updated Resource Assessment Study (RAS) model factors in the number and types of cases filed to estimate the time and amount of staff courts require to process cases. For instance, felony and family law matters require the largest share of court resources relative to other case types, whereas traffic infractions are often resolved as administrative matters, resulting in fewer court appearances and less court workload.

This nationally known and accepted methodology has been employed in more than 30 states to measure the work activities of court staff, judicial officers, and other entities connected with the court system.

Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda:

Plan for Court Technology: The council will consider an updated Tactical Plan for Technology, which includes concrete actions to improve access to the courts, enhance operational efficiencies, strengthen disaster recovery capabilities, and meet minimum technology standards for remote proceedings.

Jury Instructions and Jury Service: The council will hear an informational presentation outlining the history, present, and planned enhancements of jury service, including information about the state’s plain-language jury instructions, implicit bias education, and pilot projects regarding juror compensation.

Addressing Racial Inequities: The council will consider recommended steps to support collaborative court and diversion programs. Proposed strategies include improved data collection on the race and ethnicity of participants and an assessment tool to help identify and correct areas where racial disparities may exist.

Legal Services Trust Fund Commission: The council will receive information about the work of the commission, which administers grant programs that fund local and statewide civil legal aid organizations. Grant funding comes from the Equal Access Fund, the Greg E. Knoll Justice Gap Fund, and interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA).

Public Service Recognition Week Videos: Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated this year on May 4-10. The council will get a preview of a series of five videos that will highlight occupations and personal stories from employees in public service within the state judicial branch.

The complete council meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center. A link to a live webcast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website on the day of the meeting.