Judges and Judiciary
Oct. 20, 2026
California courts face growing judge shortage as caseloads become more complex
A Judicial Council study found California needs 231 additional judgeships across 22 counties, more than double the shortfall identified in 2022, as increasingly complex cases and new legal requirements strain the courts.
California needs 231 additional judgeships across 22 superior courts, more than double the shortage identified four years ago, as increasingly complex cases, new legal requirements and staffing shortages place growing demands on the judiciary.
The findings, presented at the Judicial Council's Oct. 16 meeting, represent a sharp increase from a 2022 study that identified a need for 98 additional judgeships. The shortage has also spread to counties previously considered adequatel...
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