Overview
Who Should Apply?
Courses
Schedule and Course Delivery
Qualifications
Admission Requirements
Continue Your Education
Partnership
Contact
Brochure (pdf)

“Working in the California judicial branch today is an exciting opportunity to contribute towards maintaining a strong and impartial judicial system that will be accessible to the public we serve. The Sacramento State program provides students with an opportunity to learn from individuals that have been involved in the California judicial system during some of the most dynamic and innovative times for the judiciary. The Administrative Office of the Courts is excited to participate in a program that will introduce and inspire individuals to a career in judicial administration.”

William C. Vickrey
Administrative Director of the Courts

“Less than a month after graduating from the Judicial Administration program, I had the job of my dreams. Being the CEO of a court wouldn’t have been possible without the JA program.”

Hector Gonzalez Jr.
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California- Mono County

Overview

An executive or manager in today’s court system must be a jack-of-all-trades in legal and fiscal matters, human resources, as well as in facilities management and contract negotiation. The complexity and scope of executive/managerial jobs require future leaders to be skilled in using current technology, implementing innovative business theories and applying academic knowledge. Working in the California judicial branch is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a strong and impartial third branch of government. The Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration program at the College of Continuing Education at Sacramento State provides students with an opportunity to learn from current leaders in the California judicial system during one of the most dynamic and innovative eras for the branch. The end result will provide the judicial branch with leaders who make a difference in how justice is provided in their courts, in their communities, with the media – and particularly – in successful practice of overall judicial administration.

The College of Continuing Education, in conjunction with the Sacramento State Department of Public Policy and Administration, is offering the Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration program. One of a few of its kind in the nation, the program was developed in close cooperation with the California Administrative Office of the Courts and others directly involved in judicial administration.

Who Should Apply?

The four-course certificate in judicial administration is designed for highly motivated individuals currently working in the courts and for those interested in a potential career of court administration. This program greatly enhances certificate holders’ skills, enabling them to work with judges and stakeholders and secure higher levels of responsibility within the court system. Certificate holders climb the career ladder in the courts to obtain well-paid executive positions.

Courses

PPA 291: Court Governance and Operations
Studies the state judiciary as both independent and interdependent with the legislative and executive branches of government at both the state and local level. The goal is to develop foundational knowledge of the historical and evolving governing and operational principles of the California court system. Units: 3.0

PPA 292: Court Management
Provides training in key court administrative areas identified by such organizations as the National Association of Court Management (e.g., case flow management). Drawing from interdisciplinary literature on management theory, court case studies illustrate and provide context. Units: 3.0

PPA 293: Court Leadership
Examines leadership in the court environment as distinct from management. Investigates how leadership principles are exercised in pivotal areas of the courts such as: community relations, creativity and innovation, organizational change, workforce development, succession planning, strategic planning and re-engineering. Units: 3.0

PPA 294: Emerging Issues in Judicial Administration
Addresses pressing issues in judicial administration (e.g., courts in an electronic world, rising administrative workloads, greater number of self-represented litigants). Specific topics may change from year to year depending on the urgency of topics and nature of policy implications. Units: 3.0

Schedule and Course Delivery

Convenient scheduling is offered to support working professionals. Classes are offered one Friday and one Saturday per month. Many of the dedicated faculty are working professionals in the field of court administration. Each consecutive course is completed within four months.

Tuition: $450 per unit

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and demonstrate relevant professional work experience within the court system. Applicants will be screened for their demonstrated interest in the court environment and for the aptitude to complete the program over a four-semester sequence. Current court employees who desire to further their careers in the courts are encouraged to apply.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of bachelor’s degree
2. Completed Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration application
3. Official transcripts of all college coursework
4. Two letters of recommendation and recommendation forms, one from a supervisor and one from an individual in a professional or academic position familiar with the applicant’s work
5. One to two page single-spaced statement addressing purpose for pursuing Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration
6. Curriculum vitae or resume demonstrating relevant professional work experience
7. $50 non-refundable application-processing fee (check made payable to CSUS)

Letters of recommendation may be sent under separate cover to the address listed below.

Please send all application materials by Tuesday, August 31st to:

Sacramento State – College of Continuing Education
Attn: JA program
3000 State University Drive East
Sacramento, CA 95819-6103

Continue Your Education

Courses taken in the Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration program may be used toward the six units of elective credit required for a master’s degree at Sacramento State in public policy and administration with a concentration in judicial administration.

Partnership

The Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration program originated as a pilot project in September 2007 and is academically based in the public policy and administration graduate program at Sacramento State. It is a partnership of the California Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), California Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, the 58 trial courts and Sacramento State.

For more information, please contact:

Candice Palaspas, 916-278-2799 palaspas@csus.edu

View brochure in pdf format.