Over one million civil cases have been added to California state courts’ backlog in the last 5 years. Unsurprisingly, our courts are not meeting any of their civil case processing time targets.
Yesterday I had the privilege of testifying before the CA Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of Senate Bill 1141 (increasing mediation), on behalf of the bill’s sponsor, Conference of California Bar Associations. This bill originated last year in the Orange County Bar Association – CA Legislative Resolutions Committee, where I authored it in its resolution form.
I am grateful to Senator Roger Niello and to his amazing Legislative Director, Calvin Rusch, for championing SB 1141, to Court Executive Officer for the Los Angeles County Superior Courts, David Slayton, for flying to Sacramento to testify with me, and to the many organizations who submitted letters in support of this bill:
California Conference of Bar Associations, Cathy Rucker, Michele Anderson
Civil Justice Association of California,
Judicial Council of California,
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles,
Orange County Bar Association – CA, and
California Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you to Senate Chair Umberg and the Consumer Attorneys of California for working with us on amendments. Thank you also to the American Arbitration Association and its CEO Bridget Mary McCormack, Alan Crivaro, and Senator Min’s and Senator Wilk’s offices for your support.
I am thrilled to announce SB 1141 passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee 11-0.
