A4__Annual report final draft 4.7.22 v12

PATH TO RESTORATION

SBSC is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community while performing essential services to the public. The health and safety of all our judicial officers, employees, court users, and justice partners is our driving force as we begin restoring and rethinking court services and post-pandemic impacts. During 2021, the court focused on restoring pre-pandemic service levels and addressing COVID-19 induced backlogs with a severely reduced workforce and COVID-19 restrictions in place.

In response to the continuing public safety challenges presented by COVID-19, SBSC reinstated most services in 2021, despite being severely underfunded and understaffed during Fiscal Year(FY) 2020-2021. Health and Safety Challenges After recovering from an $8 million funding reduction in FY 2020-21, California and the Judicial Branch are on the road to recovery with restoration of court funding and additional one-time funding in FY 2021-22, which began in July 2021. Budget Changes Open vacancies, retirements, and the wave of workplace impacts related to COVID-19, impacted numerous services to all court users. With an improved budget outlook, SBSC is actively filling vacancies, and restoring public services to pre-pandemic levels, while addressing critical backlog. Operational Impacts Remote access has become a permanent service delivery model for court users and SBSC continues to implement options such as an appointment scheduler for the Clerk’s Office, payment options, live-streaming proceedings, electronic document access, video- conferencing, and other remote services through DASH, the court’s website, etc. Remote Access

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021