Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Quarterly Update from Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II
September 2025

Charting the Future of Justice: Superior Court of Los Angeles County Launches Strategic Plan and Court Commons

As we close the third quarter of 2025, this moment invites both reflection and renewal. On Constitution Day, September 17, I reaffirmed my oath to uphold the Constitution—a solemn reminder of the judiciary’s vital role as an important coequal branch of government. In that spirit, I am proud to share two major initiatives that underscore our enduring commitment to justice and public service: the Superior Court of Los Angeles County’s (Court) 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and the upcoming debut of Court Commons, a new civic experience designed to bring the Court closer to the communities we serve.

Strategic Plan

On September 17, 2025, the Court launched its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, a forward-looking framework designed to expand access to justice, strengthen public trust and elevate the experience of every court user. This plan reflects our commitment to innovation, transparency and responsiveness in a time of rapid technological and societal change.

Developed over eight months by a working group led by 21 judicial officers representing a variety of litigation types and judicial districts, in collaboration with the Court’s Senior Executive Team, the plan is anchored by a revised mission statement:

“The Court serves our community by providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and effective resolution of all cases.”

The replacement of ‘efficient’ with ‘effective’ signals the Court’s commitment to ensuring that justice is measured not by speed or cost alone, but by fairness, accessibility and the quality of outcomes delivered.

The plan also reaffirms the Court’s five core values, which guide how we serve the public and conduct ourselves:

1. People Focused - Prioritizing the needs of court users, court employees and judicial officers.
2. Transformative through Innovation - Embracing new solutions, technologies and approaches.
3. Data-Informed - Grounding decisions in facts and data to inform policy, administrative and operational decisions.
4. Collaborative - Partnering across the Court and with  justice partners, stakeholders and the community we serve.
5. Steward of Public Trust - Upholding the highest ethical standards through accountability and transparency to maintain the public’s trust and confidence.

Building on these values, the plan identifies five focus areas that will shape the Court’s future programs, projects and initiatives over the next three years:

• Enhancing Accessibility and Transforming the Court User Experience: Simplifying legal information and reimagining services for self-represented litigants and limited-English speakers to ensure that every user finds the system approachable, understandable and equitable.
• Building Public Trust: The Court is deepening its engagement with communities and stakeholders, reinforcing its role as a transparent and accountable institution that protects the independence of the judiciary.
• Streamlining Case Resolution and Operations: With an emphasis on efficiency and fairness, the Court is modernizing its processes to ensure timely case resolution and better integration with community-based services.
• Developing a Future-Ready Workforce and Bench: The plan prioritizes recruitment, retention and professional development to support a mission-driven, high-performing judicial workforce.
• Fostering Innovation and Sustainability: The Court is embracing modern solutions and resilient infrastructure to meet current and future demands while optimizing public resources.

I encourage you all to review the Court’s bold vision for the next three years and, as members of the legal community, invite you to contribute to its success.

Court Commons Mobile Exhibit

As part of this broader vision, the Court is also proud to announce the launch of Court Commons, an interactive mobile civic experience debuting on December 12, 2025. Court Commons is designed to bring court education directly to the community in a dynamic, engaging format. Visitors can expect immersive exhibits, hands-on activities and storytelling that highlights the real-life impact of the justice system—complete with robes to try on, spin wheels and stories that changed lives. This effort is aligned with the Court’s focus area to build the Public’s trust in the Court and specifically, the goal to build positive and trusting relationships with the communities we serve.

On Friday, December 12, 2025, at 12 noon, I invite you to attend the launch of Court Commons at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. Visitors will have an opportunity to tour the exhibit and learn more about the Court’s outreach efforts with the community. We hope you will consider joining us for this launch that I am very excited for!

Closing

As we look ahead to the next three years, the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and the launch of Court Commons reflect the Superior Court’s deep commitment to innovation, transparency and service. These initiatives are more than institutional milestones—they are a reaffirmation of our constitutional role and our responsibility to the people of Los Angeles County. I am reminded daily that an independent judiciary is not only a pillar of democracy, but a living promise to deliver justice with integrity, accessibility and purpose. I invite the legal community to join us in advancing this vision together.