Raise Your Rights

California's jury trial initiative for family and juvenile dependency (CPS) courts

Title to be prepared by the CA Attorney General:

Gives parents the right to choose to have a jury trial in child-custody and dependent-child cases

 

Summary to be prepared by the CA Attorney General:

Gives parents the right to choose that a jury, rather than a judge, determines who loses legal custody of the child. Prohibits the judge from rejecting a jury’s decision in child-custody cases. Allows a parent in dependency-child proceedings to choose that a jury, rather than a judge, determines whether a child should be declared a dependent of the court. 

 

Summary of fiscal impact report by the CA Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance

Unknown ongoing net fiscal impact on state courts that would depend significantly on (1) how the measure is interpreted and implemented by the courts and (2) how individuals respond to the ability to demand a jury trial in child custody and juvenile dependency jurisdictional hearings. Potential ongoing increase in county costs that could reach the low millions of dollars annually related to juvenile dependency jurisdictional cases-some or all of which could be shifted to the state. 

View a full prior fiscal impact report prepared by the California Legislative Analyst Office below:

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