Description

JOB TITLE:                    Supreme Court Public Information Officer

LOCATION:                   San Francisco, CA

JOB OPENING #:          6733

OVERVIEW 
The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Supreme Court Public Information Officer with the Executive Office.  
    
The Supreme Court Public Information Officer (SCPIO) is responsible for providing communications counsel, programs, and services to the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court. This position will also serve as their spokesperson and liaison between the media, general public, justice system partners, and other key stakeholders. SCPIO provides news and information through a variety of communications channels and responds to queries and requests on the behalf of the Chief Justice and Supreme Court. The SCPIO also conforms to agreed-upon policies and procedures, and designs and develops communications strategies utilizing communications best practices.

The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. As employees of the council, every member of staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station. 

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco office at least two days per week, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding this location. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategizes with the Chief Justice on short-, medium-, and long-term media relations, and communications goals and objectives. Designs and implements programs, projects, and tactics in support of the Chief Justice’s priorities. 
• Manages proactive and reactive media relations activities and events on behalf of the Chief Justice. Advises on media and public relations opportunities and activities and serves as a spokesperson for the Supreme Court by drafting remarks, statements, comments, and news releases.
• Acts as the primary point of contact for appearance/engagement requests for the Chief Justice. 
• Oversee the strategy for, and management of, the Chief Justice’s web presence on the California Courts website and the California Courts Newsroom, including video, photography, and social media channels, and well as the use of Judicial Council Branch Wide Communications Channels.
• Serves as the Public Information Officer for the Supreme Court of California and news media and public point of contact for the court. 
• Supports the communications and public relations needs of the Court’s Associate Justices and manages the media relations needs of the Court’s internal committees.
• Oversee the management and operations of the Supreme Court Public Information office and administers the annual office budget, oversee contracts, subscriptions, and procurements, monitors and approves expenditures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 
Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, journalism, public relations, or a directly related field, and five years of professional media-relations experience, including one year of experience with a public sector organization or government agency. An additional four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR 

Master’s degree in a directly related field such as communications, journalism, or public relations, and two (2) years of experience developing and administering a comprehensive communications or public relations program, including dissemination of information to internal and external audiences through various communications media.

Desirable Qualifications 

•       Experience working with governance bodies or high-level stakeholders 
•       Strong political acumen and strategic planning skills
•       Ability to navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy 

Other Information 
Please note: If you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.

HOW TO APPLY
This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume and a response to the supplemental questions. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Monday, September 7, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

To complete the online application please visit www.courts.ca.gov/about/careers and search for Job ID# 6733.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260

PAYMENT & BENEFITS 
$8,512 - $12,766 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

•       Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
•       14 paid holidays per calendar year
•       Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
•       1 personal holiday per year
•        Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
•       CalPERS Retirement Plan
•       401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
•       Employee Assistance Program
•       Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
•       FlexElect Program
•       Pretax Parking
•       Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
•       Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)
•       Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following question.

(You may consider submitting a separate document due to character limitations.)

1.    Describe a time when you led a complex or politically sensitive initiative involving multiple stakeholders with differing priorities. What was the challenge, what strategies did you use to navigate sensitive dynamics, and what was the outcome?

2.    Describe your approach to developing talking points or briefing materials for a high-ranking executive who will be speaking to a diverse audience about a complex or sensitive issue. How would you ensure the information is accurate, clear, and appropriate for the audience?