The following is a Dec. 13 news release from the Judicial Council of California, announcing an increase of judges throughout the state, including one more judge for Los Angeles County and two more for San Bernardino County:
The judgeships in question are commonly referred to as the “second 50” judgeships that were authorized, but not funded, through Assembly Bill 159 (Stats. 2007, ch. 722), and based on a judicial needs assessment approved by the council in 2007.
A report, at courts.ca.gov/documents, submitted to the council for its consideration today showed that the most recent needs assessment, prepared and approved by the council in 2012, would change the allocation of judgeships compared to what the council approved in 2007.
“As much as my court would love one [a new judgeship], we have to look at the needs of our courts statewide,” said council member and Contra Costa County Judge Mary Ann O’Malley. Contra Costa County would have gained a new judgeship if the council based its allocation on the judgeship needs of 2007, but will not get one based on the updated 2012 needs assessment. “For those of us who must go back to our courts that were getting judges and now may not be, it’s not the easy thing to do, but it’s the right thing to do.”
The council voted to allocate the 50 new judgeships, and any additional judgeships approved and funded in the future, based on the most recent judicial needs assessment approved by the Judicial Council.
For information on other Judicial Council actions and discussions from the public meeting, visit courts.ca.gov.