The California Judicial Council Artificial Intelligence Task Force is a body established by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero in May 2024 to evaluate and develop policy recommendations for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the state’s judicial branch. Its primary goal is to balance the potential benefits of AI in court operations with safeguards to protect public trust, confidentiality, privacy, and judicial integrity.

Chaired by Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill of the Fifth Appellate District, the task force includes judicial officers like Justice Mary J. Greenwood, Judge Arturo Castro, Justice Stacy E. Boulware Eurie, Judge Kyle S. Brodie, and others, along with court executive David Yamasaki and policy advisor Jessica Devencenzi.

On July 18, 2025, the Judicial Council adopted Rule 10.430 and Standard 10.80, effective September 1, 2025. These require courts allowing AI use to develop policies by December 15, 2025, ensuring accountability, transparency, and bias prevention. Courts can either adopt the model policy or create their own, addressing confidentiality, privacy, and accuracy verification.

This rule applies to generative AI tools used for court operations, such as drafting internal documents, research, or administrative tasks (non-adjudicative purposes). Rule 10.430 aims to promote responsible and ethical use of generative AI in court operations while addressing risks like data breaches, biased outputs, and inaccuracies. It responds to the growing integration of AI in judicial systems while prioritizing public trust and fairness.

It does not govern AI use by attorneys, parties, or the public submitting materials to the court, though courts may set related local rules.

AI-generated content must be reviewed by humans to ensure accuracy and prevent reliance on “hallucinations” (inaccurate or fabricated outputs). AI use must align with judicial ethics, ensuring it does not compromise impartiality, due process, or public trust in the judiciary. Judges are restricted from using AI for adjudicative tasks (e.g., drafting rulings) unless explicitly allowed by the court’s policy with safeguards.

Standard 10.80 of the California Rules of Court, also adopted by the California Judicial Council on July 18, 2025, and effective September 1, 2025, provides guidance to support Rule 10.430 in governing the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in California’s judicial branch, including superior courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. While Rule 10.430 sets mandatory requirements for courts to develop AI policies, Standard 10.80 offers advisory guidelines to help courts implement those policies effectively.

California’s court system, the largest in the U.S. with 65 courts, 1,800 judges, and five million cases annually, is the first to adopt such comprehensive AI rules, setting a national standard. Other states like Illinois, Delaware, and Arizona have similar policies, while New York, Georgia, and Connecticut are exploring them.