Chief justice praises governor's revised budget proposal

California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Wednesday praised Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised 2026-27 budget proposal, saying the governor's continued support for the judicial branch would help preserve access to justice even as the state confronts mounting fiscal pressures.

In a statement issued after Newsom unveiled his May budget revision, Guerrero highlighted funding increases for court operations, interpreters, and court-appointed counsel, while acknowledging the tough economic climate facing the state.

"As the state faces significant budget challenges, I appreciate Governor Newsom's continued support of the judicial branch to protect access to justice for all," Guerrero said. "This includes increased funding for operational costs, court interpreters, and court-appointed counsel. We look forward to working with the Governor's Administration and the Legislature to finalize the budget in the coming weeks."

A defiant Newsom unveiled his latest revised budget while in office by lauding California's "dominant" position as the "tentpole" of the U.S. economy--and blaming gas prices and other cost of living increases on President Donald Trump. The new proposed includes almost $247 billion in General Fund spending for the budget year that begins July 1. This is down just $1.8 billion from the budget he proposed in January. A summary released by Newsom's office credited this news to improved tax receipts "boosted by a 2025 spike in capital gains realizations."

Newsom's revised spending plan seeks to erase California's projected deficit through July 2028 while preserving core state services and bolstering reserve accounts. The governor described the proposal as evidence that "fiscal discipline and progressive values go hand in hand," emphasizing that the state would balance the budget without major new ongoing General Fund commitments.

The proposal includes nearly $30 billion in reserves and a $9.7 billion deposit into the state's Surplus Holding Account, while also maintaining investments in education, healthcare, housing, and public safety.

Both the Judicial Branch and California Department of Justice saw small increases compared to January, to $5.4 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. Newsom included modest boosts for court priorities like language access, appellate court security, and the courthouse construction fund.

The judicial branch has repeatedly warned in recent years that inflationary pressures, rising operational costs and growing demand for language access and appointed counsel services have strained trial court budgets across California. Guerrero's response signaled cautious optimism that the revised proposal would help courts maintain services while broader budget negotiations continue in Sacramento.

The governor's revised budget now heads to the Legislature, where lawmakers will negotiate a final spending package before the start of the new fiscal year.