Cal. R. 10.469

As amended through July 24, 2024

Rule 10.469 - Education recommendations for justices, judges, and subordinate judicial officers

(a)Judicial education recommendations generally

Justices, judges, and subordinate judicial officers, as part of their continuing judicial education, should regularly participate in educational activities related to their responsibilities and particular judicial assignment or assignments. Minimum education requirements and expectations related to judicial responsibilities and assignments are stated in rules 10.461-10.462. Additional education requirements related to specific responsibilities are stated in rule 10.463 (for those hearing family law matters), rule 10.464 (for those hearing domestic violence issues), and rule 10.468 (for those hearing probate proceedings). The following recommendations illustrate for some specific responsibilities and assignments how justices, judges, and subordinate judicial officers should participate in more judicial education than is required and expected.

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2023; previously amended effective January 1, 2012.)

(b)Jury trial assignment

Judges or subordinate judicial officers assigned to jury trials should regularly refer to appropriate educational materials and should regularly complete appropriate educational programs devoted to the conduct of jury voir dire and the treatment of jurors.

(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2023; previously amended effective January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2016.)

(c) Hearing of juvenile dependency matters

Judges or subordinate judicial officers who hear juvenile dependency matters, including retired judges who sit on court assignment, should regularly refer to appropriate educational materials and should annually complete appropriate education programs on juvenile dependency law and procedure, consistent with the requirements in Welfare and Institutions Code section 304.7.

(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2023.)

(d) Capital case assignment

Judges assigned to hear a capital case should complete, before the commencement of the trial, a comprehensive education program on California law and procedure relevant to capital cases provided by the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER). A judge with a subsequent assignment to a capital case should complete a periodic update course within two years before the commencement of the trial. The periodic update may be provided through actual classroom instruction or through any other media as determined by CJER.

(e) Education on fairness and access, unconscious bias, and prevention of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and inappropriate workplace conduct

(1) In order to achieve the objective of assisting judicial officers in preserving the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system through the prevention of bias, each justice, judge, and subordinate judicial officer should regularly participate in education on fairness and access. The education should include the following subjects: race and ethnicity; gender; sexual orientation; persons with disabilities; persons with limited economic means; and persons without stable housing.

(2) Each justice, judge, and subordinate judicial officer must participate in education on unconscious bias, as well as the prevention of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and inappropriate workplace conduct. This education must be taken at least once every three-year continuing education cycle as determined by rules 10.461(c)(1) and 10.462(d).

(Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2023; previously amended effective January 1, 2021.)

Cal. R. Ct. 10.469

Rule 10.469 Amended effective 1/1/2023; amended effective 1/1/2021; Rule 10.469 amended effective 1/1/2016; adopted effective 1/1/2008; previously amended effective 1/1/2012.