California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the Judicial Council of California are commemorating their third annual Public Service Recognition Week. This event is dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of public servants within California's judicial branch.
Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero stated, "This week we honor the 20,000 dedicated public servants of our state's judicial branch of government. Through their work, they safeguard due process, uphold the rule of law, and help ensure that justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for the communities we serve every day."
Public Service Recognition Week takes place during the first week of May each year to recognize individuals serving in various levels of government across the nation.
The Judicial Council has produced videos featuring five public servants from California who share their motivations for working within the judicial system:
- Justice Charles Smiley serves as an associate justice at the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One.
- Laila Waheed is a court executive officer for Nevada County Superior Court and began her career as a Judicial Fellow.
- AJ Guzman holds the position of chief information officer for Sutter County Superior Court and works on improving remote access to courts.
- Latrice Brown coordinates capital appointments for the California Supreme Court to ensure adequate representation in death penalty cases.
- Sheri Gulino directs civil and probate matters with Riverside County Superior Court and initiated one of California's first CARE Act programs.
These videos can be viewed on YouTube. The Judicial Council extends gratitude to several Superior Courts in Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, and San Francisco counties for contributing video footage that highlights their employees' dedication. Additionally, thanks are given to San Diego County for providing footage related to CARE Court graduations.
The Judicial Council serves as the policymaking body for California courts—the largest court system in the United States—operating under Chief Justice leadership per constitutional guidelines. It aims to maintain consistent and impartial administration of justice across all state courts.