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Judicial Council praises remote proceedings as access tool and approves annual report
Summary
The Judicial Council approved its annual report on remote technology, hearing that courts held over 6 million remote proceedings since March 2022 and that remote options expanded access for family law, dependency and rural courts though definitions of 'remote' vary across courts.
Judges Lisa Rodriguez and Julia Hannigan and Jessica Devincenzi presented the Judicial Council’s annual report on trial court use of remote technology and described the program’s reach and effects on Feb. 20.
Jessica Devincenzi of the Council's Office of Policy and Research said California courts have held more than 6,000,000 remote proceedings since March 2022 and reported an average of about 7,098 remote proceedings per day during the most recent reporting period. Between Sept. 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2025, courts reported 1,746,288 remote proceedings statewide — roughly 1.2 million civil and just over 550,000 criminal proceedings — according to the presenters.
Panelists and council members emphasized access benefits: Hannigan, who works with dependency cases, described how remote options allow parents, minors in out‑of‑county placements and incarcerated parents to participate more fully; Rodriguez noted remote appearances improve access to experts and reduce delays. Council members raised related operational points including interpreter coverage, cost savings for sheriffs and transport, cybersecurity considerations and the need to harmonize definitions of what counts as a remote proceeding in data collection.
The council approved the report by voice vote; Senator Umberg recorded an abstention on the motion. Members discussed continuing to extend statutory authority for remote technology and to refine reporting standards so the data better capture variations in practice across courts.
Why it matters: Remote proceedings are now a core tool for access to justice in California, especially for families, rural communities and those who face travel or security barriers. The council’s data and the discussion underscore both the scale of use and outstanding questions about standardizing definitions and ensuring security and quality.
What’s next: Presenters and members said they will continue work on reporting definitions and look for ways to address cybersecurity and interpreter access as use grows.
