California Codes

Cal. Civil Code § 54.8 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a)In any civil or criminal proceeding, including, but not limited to, traffic, small claims court, family court proceedings and services, and juvenile court proceedings, in any court-ordered or court-provided alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, or in any administrative hearing of a public agency, where a party, witness, attorney, judicial employee, judge, juror, or other participant who is deaf or hard of hearing, the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, upon his or her request, shall be provided with a functioning assistive listening system or a computer-aided transcription system. Any individual requiring this equipment shall give advance notice of his or her need to the appropriate court or agency at the time the hearing is set or not later than five days before the hearing.

(b)Assistive listening systems include, but are not limited to, special devices which transmit amplified speech by means of audio-induction loops, radio frequency systems (AM or FM), or infrared transmission. Personal receivers, headphones, and neck loops shall be available upon request by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

(c)If a computer-aided transcription system is requested, sufficient display terminals shall be provided to allow the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing to read the real-time transcript of the proceeding without difficulty.

(d)A sign shall be posted in a prominent place indicating the availability of, and how to request, an assistive listening system and a computer-aided transcription system. Notice of the availability of the systems shall be posted with notice of trials.

(e)Each superior court shall have at least one portable assistive listening system for use in any court facility within the county. When not in use, the system shall be stored in a location determined by the court.

(f)The Judicial Council shall develop and approve official forms for notice of the availability of assistive listening systems and computer-aided transcription systems for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Judicial Council shall also develop and maintain a system to record utilization by the courts of these assistive listening systems and computer-aided transcription systems.

(g)If the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing is a juror, the jury deliberation room shall be equipped with an assistive listening system or a computer-aided transcription system upon the request of the juror.

(h)A court reporter may be present in the jury deliberating room during a jury deliberation if the services of a court reporter for the purpose of operating a computer-aided transcription system are required for a juror who is deaf or hard of hearing.

(i)In any of the proceedings referred to in subdivision (a), or in any administrative hearing of a public agency, in which the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing is a party, witness, attorney, judicial employee, judge, juror, or other participant, and has requested use of an assistive listening system or computer-aided transcription system, the proceedings shall not commence until the system is in place and functioning.

(j)As used in this section, “individual who is deaf or hard of hearing” means an individual with a hearing loss, who, with sufficient amplification or a computer-aided transcription system, is able to fully participate in the proceeding.

(k)In no case shall this section be construed to prescribe a lesser standard of accessibility or usability than that provided by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336) and federal regulations adopted pursuant to that act.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1994–2022 · leading case: People v. Freeman, 882 P.2d 249 (Cal. 1994).

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People v. Freeman, 882 P.2d 249 (Cal. 1994). · cites it 4× “Code, § 754; Civ. Code, § 54.8.) [1] Nevertheless, the Guillory court held that the "record does not support the claim [that defendant was denied due process because he could not hear] factually or legally.”

Sexton v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, 7 F. App'x 736 (9th Cir. 2001). · cites it 3× “On appeal, Sexton challenges only the judgment in favor of the County with respect to her claims under the ADA, California Civil Code section 54.8, and the Due Process Clause.”

Jose Barajas Centeno v. City of Carlsbad (9th Cir. 2022). · cites it 2× “The district court did not err in dismissing Centeno’s claim under California Civil Code § 54.8. Section 54.”

People v. Breed CA4/2 (Cal. Ct. App. 2020). “(Civ. Code, § 54.8, subds. (a), (g).) The record discloses that the court gave the juror an assisted listening device for use during the trial, and it upgraded that device during jury deliberations.”

Barajas Centeno v. City of Carlsbad (S.D. Cal. 2021). “” Cal. Civ. Code § 54.8 (a).3 But the allegations do 15 not involve Plaintiff’s impairment.”

People v. Slape CA1/4 (Cal. Ct. App. 2014). “As the court explained in denying the motion for new trial, defendant was in fact provided with both the accommodations specified in Civil Code section 54.8. He was able to view a computer-aided transcription system, a “realtime feed,” and he had the use of a headset, although…”

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