Chief Justice Highlights Need for Additional Judgeships in Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, CA — In the 2026 State of the Judiciary address, California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero identified the need for additional judicial resources in high-growth regions, including Riverside County, as part of broader efforts to support trial court operations statewide.

Chief Justice Guerrero acknowledged the Governor’s proposed $70 million in ongoing funding for trial courts and noted that judicial staffing needs remain in counties experiencing sustained population growth and increasing caseloads.

“A longstanding problem our courts face, however, relates to the lack of funding for judgeships in counties with the greatest need,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. “While this funding has helped to minimize the gap between the number of authorized judgeships and judicial needs, there are still significant, ongoing challenges and needs that remain—with the need for more judges being especially acute in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.”

According to the Judicial Council’s most recent judicial needs assessment (October 2022), California courts required 98 additional judicial officers statewide at that time. Of those, 22 positions were identified as needed in Riverside County.

Riverside Superior Court received two judgeships in 2018 as part of a statewide effort to fund positions authorized in prior years. Current caseload demands continue to exceed available judicial resources.

Presiding Judge Hon. Jacqueline C. Jackson acknowledged the Chief Justice’s remarks:

“We are grateful to Chief Justice Guerrero for highlighting the realities our court faces. This acknowledgment brings attention to the demands in Riverside County and supports ongoing efforts to align judicial resources with community needs.”

Recent data reflects the operational impact of these resource constraints:

• Riverside County reports the highest use of temporary assigned judges statewide.
• In the last fiscal year, the cost associated with temporary assigned judges in Riverside County was approximately $3 million.

The Judicial Council continues to provide support through its Temporary Assigned Judges Program. These assignments assist courts in managing workload demands while longer-term solutions are considered.

“Our judges and staff are managing sustained, high caseloads while demand for court services continues to grow,” said Court Executive Officer Jason B. Galkin. “Temporary assigned judges provide critical support, but additional judgeships are necessary to improve case processing and ensure timely access to justice for the communities we serve.”

Court leadership indicated that ongoing collaboration with state partners remains important to address judicial resource needs in Riverside County and across the state.