The Inland Empire continues to face a significant shortage of judges, a problem that California’s top judicial leader says is putting pressure on already overburdened courts.
In her 2026 State of the Judiciary address, Patricia Guerrero told lawmakers that while funding for trial courts has increased, the need for additional judges—particularly in Riverside and San Bernardino counties—remains urgent.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget includes $70 million in ongoing support for trial courts. Still, Guerrero emphasized that the funding alone won’t resolve the deeper issue of staffing shortages.
The impact of that shortage is already being felt. Between January 2023 and early March of this year, hundreds of criminal cases in Riverside County were dismissed due to overcrowded court calendars—437 misdemeanors and 57 felonies, according to Guerrero’s remarks.
A 2022 report from the Judicial Council of California underscores the scope of the problem. At the time, Riverside County was short 22 judges, while San Bernardino County faced an even larger gap of 30. No other county in the state came close; Kern County, for comparison, needed 11.
Local court officials say the situation hasn’t improved as much as the numbers might suggest.
While the governor’s office points out there are currently no official vacancies in Riverside County’s authorized judgeships, court representatives say that distinction doesn’t reflect the real demand.
Kareem Gongora, a spokesperson for Riverside County courts, explained that the state is referring only to funded and authorized positions—not the total number of judges actually needed to handle caseloads.
San Bernardino officials echoed that concern. Even with only one formal vacancy, court leaders say they still need dozens more judges to keep up. According to court spokesperson Brittany Cabrera, judges there are handling workloads about 18% higher than the state average, with each judge managing more than 3,100 cases.
There have been some recent appointments. Newsom named John Balla to the San Bernardino bench in late March, and has appointed three judges—Thanh Ngo, Mickie Reed and Michael Martin—to Riverside County since 2025.
But officials say those additions are not enough to close the gap.
To help manage the overflow, Riverside County has increasingly relied on temporary judges assigned through a state program. The approach has provided some relief, but it comes at a cost—roughly $3 million in the last fiscal year alone.
“Our judges and staff are managing sustained, high caseloads while demand for court services continues to grow,” said Jason B. Galkin, executive officer for Riverside Superior Court.
He noted that while temporary judges are helpful, they are only a short-term solution. “Additional judgeships are necessary to improve case processing and ensure timely access to justice,” Galkin said.
Riverside Superior Court Presiding Judge Jacqueline C. Jackson also welcomed the attention brought by Guerrero’s remarks, saying it highlights the ongoing need to better align judicial resources with the region’s growing population.
For now, the message from court leaders is clear: without more judges, the system will continue to struggle to keep pace.
