California Standards of Judicial Administration – 2026

The Judicial Council's advisory standards, published alongside the Rules of Court and grouped by the same titles — 41 standards, current as of September 1, 2025. They are recommendations rather than mandates, which is exactly why practitioners read them: they are where the Council states what good practice looks like. Title 2 covers proceedings in the trial courts, and carries the case management and delay reduction principles (Standard 2.1), the trial court case disposition time goals (2.2), the procedure for determining whether an interpreter is needed and the preappearance interview (2.10, 2.11), trial management (2.20), uninterrupted jury selection (2.25) and judicial comment on a verdict or mistrial (2.30). Title 3 covers civil cases, including appearance by telephone and complex civil litigation; Title 4 criminal cases, including adult collaborative treatment courts, vacatur relief under Penal Code section 236.14, the court's use of risk and needs assessments at sentencing, and traffic infraction procedures. Title 5 covers cases involving children and families, Title 7 probate proceedings, Title 8 the appellate courts, and Title 10, the largest at 17 standards, judicial administration itself. Title 1 is reserved.

Last updated September 10, 2026

Browse all 41 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Title 2. Standards for Proceedings in the Trial Courts

Standard 2.1 Case management and delay reduction-statement of general principles Standard 2.2 Trial court case disposition time goals Standard 2.10 Procedures for determining the need for an interpreter and a preappearance interview Standard 2.11 Interpreted proceedings-instructing participants on procedure Standard 2.20 Trial management standards Standard 2.25 Uninterrupted jury selection Standard 2.30 Judicial comment on verdict or mistrial

Title 3. Standards for Civil Cases

Standard 3.1 Appearance by telephone Standard 3.10 Complex civil litigation Standard 3.25 Examination of prospective jurors in civil cases

Title 4. Standards for Criminal Cases

Standard 4.10 Guidelines for adult collaborative treatment courts Standard 4.15 Vacatur relief under Penal Code section 236.14 Standard 4.30 Examination of prospective jurors in criminal cases Standard 4.35 Court use of risk/needs assessments at sentencing Standard 4.40 Traffic infraction procedures Standard 4.41 Courtesy notice-traffic procedures [Repealed] Standard 4.42 Traffic infraction trial scheduling

Title 5. Standards for Cases Involving Children and Families

Standard 5.20 Uniform standards of practice for providers of supervised visitation and exchange services Standard 5.30 Family court matters Standard 5.40 Juvenile court matters Standard 5.45 Resource guidelines for child abuse and neglect cases

Title 7. Standards for Probate Proceedings

Standard 7.10 Settlements or judgments in certain civil cases involving minors or persons with disabilities Standard 7.20 CARE Act proceedings

Title 8. Standards for the Appellate Courts

Standard 8.1 Memorandum opinions

Title 10. Standards for Judicial Administration

Standard 10.5 The role of the judiciary in the community Standard 10.16 Model code of ethics for court employees Standard 10.17 Trial court performance standards Standard 10.20 Court's duty to prevent bias Standard 10.21 Appointment of attorneys, arbitrators, mediators, referees, masters, receivers, and other persons Standard 10.22 Gender-inclusive practices for juror identification and juror questionnaires Standard 10.24 Children's waiting room Standard 10.25 Reasonable accommodation for court personnel Standard 10.31 Master jury list Standard 10.41 Court sessions at or near state penal institutions Standard 10.50 Selection of regular grand jury Standard 10.51 Juror complaints Standard 10.55 Local program on waste reduction and recycling Standard 10.70 Implementation and coordination of mediation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programs Standard 10.71 Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) committees Standard 10.72 ADR committees and criteria for referring cases to dispute resolution neutrals Standard 10.80 Use of generative artificial intelligence by judicial officers