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Council receives report showing more than 6 million remote court proceedings since 2022; council approves annual report
Summary
Judicial Council presenters said California courts have held over 6 million remote proceedings since March 2022 and averaged about 7,098 remote proceedings per day in the most recent reporting period; the council approved the report and discussed benefits for access, interpreter services and security concerns.
The Judicial Council on Feb. 20 received and approved its annual report on trial courts’ use of remote technology, hearing that since March 2022 California courts have conducted more than 6,000,000 remote proceedings.
Jessica Devincenzi, who leads the Judicial Council’s Office of Policy and Research, said that during the most recent reporting period courts averaged about 7,098 remote proceedings per day. Between Sept. 1, 2024 and Aug. 31, 2025 courtrooms held 1,746,288 remote proceedings; roughly 1.2 million of those were civil and just over 550,000 were criminal, Devincenzi said.
Presenters and council members emphasized access benefits: remote proceedings reduce travel, lost wages and childcare burdens and expand participation by incarcerated parents, out‑of‑county attorneys, expert witnesses and family members who otherwise could not attend in person. Julia Hannigan, who works with dependency legal services, described concrete benefits for parents, interpreters and rural courts and said remote options are a powerful tool when used in appropriate circumstances.
Judge Lisa Rodriguez (Criminal Law Advisory Committee chair) said remote proceedings have become an essential, structured part of court operations, not only an emergency measure. The council discussed minimum technology standards, the need to refine how remote proceedings are counted (for example, whether a single remote witness counts as a remote proceeding), and potential security considerations tied to expanded remote use.
The council moved and approved the report. Members said they will continue to work with the Legislature on extending authorization for remote proceedings beyond the current sunset dates and follow up on data‑definition issues raised during the discussion.
