Magazine Archive
Support for Judicial Independence is Essential
An independent judiciary, the third branch of government, is essential to democracy. This basic concept is taught in high school civics classes, universities, and law schools. It is revered by scholars, lawyers and judges. It is taken for granted by the public. The concept of an independent judiciary enjoys bipartisan support by our state and...
Read ArticleThe Changes of 2019
This year has brought many changes to the court and there are more anticipated changes on the horizon. There are three commissioner seats on our bench and all three current commissioners were sworn in over the last five months. Commissioner Kathleen Murphy retired as did Commissioner Lowell Richards after more than 22 years of service...
Read ArticleCivil Division Update
In June and July, the Civil Division experienced a stark example of “good news/bad news.” First, the bad news: Lowell Richards, our distinguished and admired commissioner, has retired. For over eighteen years, he presided adeptly over all types of matters: civil harassment restraining orders, small claims, unlawful detainers, and traffic cases. He taught about those...
Read ArticleFamily Law Perspective
The theme this year in Family Law Court has been access and efficiency. In order to improve both access and efficiency, the court has made some structural changes promoting less courtroom wait time and settlement. Moreover, the court has added services that will increase family law litigants’ access to court services. At long last, court...
Read ArticleJuvenile Division 2019
Twenty Nineteen has been a year of change in the Walnut Creek Courthouse. It has been two years since the relocation and centralization of the Juvenile Courts in Walnut Creek, joining the preexisting Traffic Division. Currently, three judges preside over exclusively juvenile matters involving Children and Family Services and Probation, and the commissioner oversees the...
Read Article2019 Review - Probate Division
Annual reports often contain numbers. Two for this report are 2.8 and 3.3. The Judicial Council collects statistics about the administration of the judicial system. From the myriad bits of compiled information, the Council prepares reports, essentially comparative analyses, about various facets of the administration of the judicial system. Among those reports, the Council provides...
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