§ 38.Meaning of statutory reference to judicial district

Title 1. Organization and Jurisdiction · Chapter 1. Courts of Justice in General · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentence§ 38 clarifies that, unless a statute says otherwise, a reference to a judicial district means the court of appeal district for the courts of appeal and the county for superior courts.

Full Text of § 38

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, a reference in a statute to a judicial district means:

(a) As it relates to a court of appeal, the court of appeal district.

(b) As it relates to a superior court, the county.

Plain-English Summary

Older statutes sometimes refer to a "judicial district," language that made more sense before California merged its municipal and superior courts into one trial court per county. § 38 tells readers how to translate that phrase today.

For the courts of appeal, a judicial district means the court of appeal district. For a superior court, it means the county, since superior court districts — other than in Los Angeles County — no longer exist as separate units. The rule applies unless the specific statute or context requires something else.

Official Comment

The following official comments are published by the California Law Revision Commission (and, for a few older sections, its predecessor Code Commissioners) alongside the statute itself — not commentary from this site.

1998 Law Revision Commission Comment. Section 38 is intended for drafting convenience. See also Section 17 (“judicial district” includes city and county). Court of appeal districts and municipal court districts are constitutionally mandated. See Cal Const Art IV §§ 3, 5. Superior court districts do not exist except in Los Angeles County. See Gov C§§ 69640–69650. By operation of this section, in a county in which the superior and municipal courts have unified, a statutory reference to a judicial district means the county rather than a former municipal court district. This general rule is subject to exceptions. See, e.g., Gov C § 71042.5 (preservation of judicial districts for purpose of publication).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does "judicial district" still mean a separate court district today?

For superior courts, no — § 38 treats a reference to a judicial district as a reference to the county, reflecting the merger of the municipal and superior courts.

Does § 38 apply to every mention of "judicial district" in California law?

Only when the specific statute or context does not already define the term differently; § 38 is a default rule, not an override.

Amendment History

Added Stats 1998 ch 931 § 20 (SB 2139), effective September 28, 1998. Amended Stats 2018 ch 92 § 39 (SB 1289), effective January 1, 2019.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

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