Frequently Asked Questions

3. If the county I work for votes to unify, will I become a state employee?

Trial court unification is a landmark court reform that will promote greater court efficiency and improved judicial services for Californians. Unification is made possible by Proposition 220, a constitutional amendment that was passed by 64 percent of the state's voters in the June 2, 1998, election. The measure permits the voluntary unification of the superior and municipal court courts of a county into one countywide superior court. When trial courts unify, the municipal court employees in that county become superior court employees, not state employees.

The employment status of trial court employees is now being studied by the Task Force on Trial Court Employees. The task force is charged with examining and outlining issues relating to the establishment of a personnel structure for trial court employees as state, county, or court employees, or other options identified by the panel. The task force also will prepare a method for submitting this issue for an advisory vote by trial court employees in each county.

See Gov. Code, §§77603(g) and 77605(b).