Community Outreach

Visit Judges in the Classroom

Image

Civics Lesson Plans and Resources for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students click here: https://www.judgesintheclassroom.org/lessons

The California Court System

Understanding the California Judicial System

California's judicial structure is bifurcated into federal and state systems, with this overview focusing on the latter. The state’s judiciary consists primarily of Trial Courts and Appellate Courts, each serving distinct functions.

Trial Courts (Superior Courts)

Known interchangeably as Superior Courts, California’s 58 Trial Courts—one per county—serve as the foundation of the state’s judicial system. Here, judges and occasionally juries, deliberate over cases, weighing evidence and testimonies to render verdicts grounded in legal principles.

These courts preside over:

• Criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations
• Civil cases spanning family law, probate, juvenile, and additional categories
• Appeals from small claims and civil cases valued under $25,000
• Appeals of misdemeanor cases

Appellate Courts

Above the Trial Courts, the Appellate Courts, consisting of Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court, serve as the next tier of the judiciary.

Courts of Appeal

Six in total, the Courts of Appeal function as intermediary appellate courts. They are strategically situated across distinct districts:

• First District – San Francisco
• Second District – Los Angeles
• Third District – Sacramento
• Fourth District: Division One – San Diego
• Fifth District – Fresno
• Sixth District – San Jose

These courts entertain appeals emanating from the Superior Courts.

California Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the state's highest court. It can review cases decided by the Courts of Appeal. Also, certain kinds of cases go directly to the Supreme Court and are not heard first in the Court of Appeal:

• Death penalty appeals
• Disciplinary cases involving judges or lawyers

The Court conducts regular sessions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Sometimes, the Court holds special sessions in other cities in California.

There are 7 justices on the Supreme Court, and at least 4 must agree on the final decision. All other State courts in California must follow a decision made in the Supreme Court. Decisions of the Supreme Court are published in the California Official Reports, which can be found on the California Courts website at www.courts.ca.gov/courts.htm.

The justices are appointed by the Governor then confirmed by the voters at the next general election. After the end of their 12-year term, they must be confirmed by the voters again. The justices must be lawyers. They must have passed the California Bar Examination or have served as a judge of a court of record in California for 10 years just before their appointment.

• Courthouse visits (individuals):  Generally, all Court proceedings are open to the public, with the exceptions of Juvenile Justice Court, Juvenile Dependency Court and select closed hearings.  
• Members of the public DO NOT need to schedule an appointment to observe Court and participate as an audience member. Courtroom seating is limited and audience members are generally admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Courtroom proceedings for each facility are posted daily for the public to view. For additional assistance about Courthouse calendars, contact the Court’s mainline at (831)636-4057 .
• Courthouse visits (groups/schools): For groups wishing to arrange a court visit, tour or mock trial, please email resourceteam@sanbenitocourt.org, providing the following information:
  • Organizer’s name
  • Organizer’s phone number
  • Name of the organization
  • Number of participants
  • Age/Grade of participants
  • Proposed visit dates/availability
  • Brief description of visit’s purpose
  • The Court offers three types of experiences for students: visits (observation), guided tours and mock trials.

A “mock trial” is a simulation of a court trial. Our program offers students the opportunity to participate in a rehearsed, interactive fictional trial so that they can learn firsthand the Court’s role in the judicial branch of government.

• Students play the roles of attorneys, witnesses, jurors and judge
• Accommodates anywhere from six to 20 active participants (generally, there is no limit on the number of audience members)
• Open to all educational, community-based organizations
• Before day of mock trial in the courthouse, students must already had prepare and rehearse roles.
• Below are links to resource materials, including instructions and mock trial cases:

For groups wishing to arrange a mock trial, please email resourceteam@sanbenitocourt.org, providing the following information:

• Organizer’s name
• Organizer’s phone number
• Name of the organization
• Number of participants (split into category by students, volunteers, teachers, etc.)
• Age/Grade of participants
• Proposed visit dates/availability
• Brief description of visit’s purpose

• Tips for hosting mock trials
• Mock trial guide
• Lesson Plan and Mock Trial