San Francisco Courts Face Potential Shutdown as Clerks Threaten Strike

Union says reforms promised after 2024 walkout have not been implemented, leading to high workloads and lack of training.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The San Francisco Superior Court could be crippled this week if court clerks follow through on their threat to strike. The strike is related to the same issues that prompted 200 clerks to walk out for a single day in October 2024, citing high workloads and lack of training. The 2024 deal included measures to address understaffing and training, but union representatives said the promised reforms have not been adequately implemented.

Why it matters

The potential strike puts the court in a difficult position since it is mandated to operate and maintain certain deadlines or cases could be dismissed. The turmoil at the superior court comes as it has already been dealing with quarrels between court leaders and the public defender's office over caseloads.

The details

SEIU Local 1021, the union representing the court clerks, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the California Public Employment Relations Board, arguing that management refused to negotiate in good faith. The union said its bargaining team recently gave management a 'commonsense' proposal that would allow employees more flexibility in their jobs and address staffing issues. Court clerks work at an hourly rate but don't get overtime, the union said, so often people work through their lunch breaks and stay after work hours without pay just to keep up with caseloads.

  • In October 2024, around 200 clerks walked out for a single day, citing high workloads and lack of training.
  • In January 2026, the court said it would order the public defender to stop turning down felony cases, which has sometimes forced authorities to release defendants.

The players

SEIU Local 1021

The union representing the San Francisco Superior Court clerks, who have threatened to strike this week.

San Francisco Superior Court

The court that could be crippled if the clerks strike, as it is mandated to operate and maintain certain deadlines or cases could be dismissed.

Public Defender's Office

The office that has been quarreling with court leaders over caseloads, adding to the turmoil at the superior court.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the clerks to strike, which could cripple the San Francisco Superior Court's operations.

The takeaway

This potential strike highlights the ongoing challenges facing the San Francisco Superior Court, including staffing shortages, high workloads, and tensions between court leadership and the public defender's office. The court's ability to function effectively and maintain critical deadlines is at risk if the clerks follow through on their threat to walk out.