Rule 10.81 Judicial Council staff

The Judicial Council in 1961 adopted a resolution that named its staff the "Administrative Office of the California Courts." In 1970, the council adopted a rule of court that renamed its staff the "Administrative Office of the Courts."

In recent years, the council became aware of recurring confusion about the relationship between the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Judicial Council. There was a common misperception that the Administrative Office of the Courts was a separate entity from the council having independent policymaking authority, when in fact, the members of the Judicial Council set policy, and staff, by whatever name, support the work of the council under the members' direction and oversight. The confusion about the role of the Administrative Office of the Courts impeded the council's ability to advance the interests of the judicial branch.

To allow the council to better achieve its mission, it decided in 2014 to retire the name "Administrative Office of the Courts." This adjustment underscored the unity of identity of the Judicial Council and its staff, and clarified that there has always been only a single entity. The retirement conformed the Judicial Council's practice with that of other state government entities, which do not assign a separate name to their staffs.

The 2014 amendments to this rule are intended to implement the retirement of the name "Administrative Office of the Courts" and clarify that in retiring the name no substantive legal change has occurred. The Judicial Council and its staff will continue to discharge any legal obligations and duties they may have, regardless of the discontinuance of the use of the name "Administrative Office of the Courts."