Judicial Council to Hear About California Courthouse Sustainability Efforts

SAN FRANCISCO-The Judicial Council at its September 20 meeting will hear a presentation on current sustainability efforts the judicial branch is employing at courthouses across the state.

The presentation will focus on key projects that enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, conserve water, and improve waste management. Efforts include:

• Water conservation
• Solar procurement
• EV (electric vehicle) charger installations
• Setting additional sustainability standards for courthouse construction

Currently, the state judicial branch has already achieved either gold or silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for 21 courthouses across the state and has seven more certifications in progress. LEED certification is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance "green" buildings.

Judicial Branch Takes Lead on Environmental Law
The council will receive an update on the importance of environmental law as an emerging area of legal practice. The presentation will include an overview of environmental law and climate change, and the role of the California judiciary as a thought leader and leader in judicial education.

The council will hear about California's intricate regulatory framework, standards, and diverse geography and ecosystems that make environmental law such a complex area of the law. The presentation will also detail how education for the state's judges is preparing them to preside over these complex cases.

Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda:

Revisions to Judicial Branch Contracting Manual: The council will consider proposed revisions to the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual. The proposed revisions would implement the recommendation from the California State Auditor to add fraud reporting requirements that are substantially similar to the State Administrative Manual.New Court Rules and Forms: The council will consider 28 agenda items related to new rules and forms to help implement new legislation or improve case procedures. These include changes in the areas of appellate procedure, civil, criminal, protective orders, probate/conservatorships, traffic, and family and juvenile proceedings. The complete council meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center. A link to a live webcast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website on the day of the meeting.