Sanctions: jurors.

Existing law authorizes a judicial officer to impose reasonable money sanctions, not to exceed $1,500, payable to the court, for any violation of a lawful court order by a person, done without good cause or substantial justification. For purposes of this provision, the term "person" includes a witness, a party, or a party's attorney. Existing law requires that certain fees and fines collected by superior courts, including the money sanctions described above, be deposited into a bank account established by the Administrative Office of the Courts for distribution, as specified, with the balance transmitted to the State Treasury for deposit in the Trial Court Trust Fund and other funds as required by law. This bill would require the Judicial Council to solicit courts for participation in a pilot project in which judicial officers of participating counties would be authorized by the bill to impose reasonable monetary sanctions, not to exceed $1,500, on an impaneled juror for any knowing violation of a lawful court order, done without good cause or substantial justification, that is supported by clear and convincing evidence. The bill would require that these monetary sanctions be deposited into a bank account for distribution, as described above, with the balance deposited into the Trial Court Trust Fund and other funds. The bill would require the Judicial Council to conduct an evaluation of the pilot project and report the results to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2021. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2022.