CALIFORNIA - STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE

• NCJ Number: 54947
• Author(s): E MIELKE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 148 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-DF-99-0052
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American Bar Association; National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE SERIES

Annotation

THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN CALIFORNIA.

Abstract

CALIFORNIA COURTS HAVE BEEN MODERNIZED IN AN EVOLUTIONARY MANNER. THE COURT SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF A COURT OF LAST RESORT (SUPREME COURT), AN INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT (COURT OF APPEAL ORGANIZED IN FIVE DISTRICTS), A TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION (SUPERIOR COURT ORGANIZED SEPARATELY FOR EACH COUNTY), AND COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION (JUSTICE COURT IN RURAL DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPAL COURT IN URBAN DISTRICTS). JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL AND JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT MUST HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION OR SERVED AS A JUDGE IN A COURT OF RECORD IN THE STATE FOR 10 YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SELECTION. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES MUST HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION FOR 5 YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SELECTION. VACANCIES ON THE SUPREME COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEAL ARE FILLED THROUGH APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR. JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURT ARE CHOSEN IN THEIR COUNTIES AT GENERAL ELECTIONS. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICE COURT JUDGES ARE ALSO ELECTED. PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED FOR THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES, THE MONETARY COMPENSATION OF JUDGES, RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE CHIEF JUSTICE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF THE STATE COURT SYSTEM, AND THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE BODY OF THE STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL. IN FISCAL YEAR 1977-1978, COURT EXPENDITURES BY THE STATE AND COUNTIES TOTALED $458.9 MILLION. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, THE TRIAL COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS, AND COURT REFORM. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE CALIFORNIA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)