State Bar & Bar Associations
San Diego bar forms law and motion resolution program
By Gina Kim
San Diego bar members form pro bono program to resolve civil cases backlogged in courts.
Government, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Pastors vow mass defiance of Newsom’s closure orders
By Malcolm Maclachlan
This latest move appears to show opponents of Gov. Gavin Newsom's emergency orders are increasingly willing to buck court ruli...
Judge Rohanee Zapanta has perfect demeanor for juvenile dependency, attorneys say.
California Courts of Appeal
Forgoing legal fees can’t be condition of intervention, panel says
By Tyler Pialet
While the Code of Civil Procedure authorizes an award of attorney fees to the prevailing party when a non-party intervenes in ...
Litigation & Arbitration
Did emergency orders skew Assembly primary election?
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Stockton-based attorney N. Allen Sawyer said his clients are seeking a temporary restraining order preventing certification of...
Constitutional Law
Gym owner is the latest to challenge Newsom’s closure orders
By Malcolm Maclachlan
The plaintiff has lost numerous members and about $100,000 while many other types of businesses have been allowed to stay open...
Government
Bill to criminalize first responders taking unofficial photos of dead people clears Assembly committee
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Those convicted could face a year in prison and a $5,000 fine per violation. The bill would also place an expansive definition...
Litigation & Arbitration
Consolidation of business interruption cases decried by many plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys
By Justin Kloczko
Policyholders and insurance companies often disagree. But at least on a procedural level, many attorneys representing them agr...
Criminal defense attorney knew no strangers in the courts.
Judges and Judiciary, Government, Criminal, Civil Litigation
Civil trials may not resume until 2021 in many counties, judges say
By Craig Anderson
While superior courts across the state have resumed civil law and motion and other pretrial hearings in recent days, or are pr...
Criminal, California Supreme Court
Facebook wants high court to end dispute over subpoenas
By Winston Cho
Criminal defendants should be barred from subpoenaing social media companies for private user content without exhausting alte...
State Bar & Bar Associations
California considers adoption of Uniform Bar Exam, despite critics
By Henrik Nilsson
The Uniform Bar Exam has led to “training of lawyers on matters that bear little relation to the legal issues that they will ...
Labor/Employment
Bill would stop wage law violators from using new name
By Jessica Mach
A bill that aims to stop employers from committing wage theft by shutting down their business and reopening under a new name p...
State Bar & Bar Associations
State Bar misled court in request for injunction of LegalMatch, judge says
By Henrik Nilsson
According to Diane L. Karpman, a legal ethics expert at Karpman and Associates in Los Angeles, the ruling is a big deal, becau...
Judges and Judiciary, Government, Civil Litigation
Superior courts restart slowly, leaving civil lawyers unhappy
By Craig Anderson
Superior courts across the state are gradually opening up more courtrooms in the midst of the COVID-19 virus, but to the frust...
Civil Litigation
2 state prisons failed to protect inmates, lawsuit says
By Tyler Pialet
The Bureau of Prisons’ website says 1,780 inmates and staff at the two prisons have tested positive for the virus and 10 have ...
Government
State courthouse construction plans are suspended amid budget woes
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Among the items that could be delayed are large court projects Alameda, Los Angeles and San Francisco counties.
Entertainment & Sports, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Monday upheld a trial judge’s decision the NCAA can’t put a cap on education-rel...
Environmental & Energy, Civil Litigation, Bankruptcy
Wildfire victims approve PG&E restructuring, company says
By Winston Cho
Wildfire victims overwhelmingly approved a plan by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to emerge from bankruptcy, the company annou...
A new U.S. Department of Labor rule that expands the list of retailers who can exempt their employees from overtime pay will b...
Judges and Judiciary
Courts must share in the fiscal pain but can still modernize, Judicial Council hears
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Administrative Director Martin Hoshino told the Judicial Council the courts are facing about a $255 million shortfall over the...
Pioneer in law opened doors for many women attorneys.
The U.S. attorney's office and the American Civil Liberties Union are battling over sealing applications in the government's u...
Civil Litigation, Antitrust & Trade Reg., 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
9th Circuit seeks justification for $43M in attorney fees
By Craig Anderson
A federal appellate panel vacated attorney fees and litigation expenses for most of a $205 million settlement between a class ...
Apple secured preliminary approval Friday for a potential $500 million settlement to resolve accusations it purposely slowed o...
U.S. Supreme Court, Intellectual Property, Civil Litigation
Lucky Brand gets lucky at U.S. Supreme Court
By Jessica Mach
A nearly two-decades-long trademark battle between two fashion companies came to an end when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimousl...
Criminal, Civil Litigation
Anti-abortion activist sues state for prosecuting him for recording Planned Parenthood officials
By Craig Anderson
Anti-abortion activist David R. Daleiden, who faces multiple felony counts of illegally recording Planned Parenthood and other...
Judges and Judiciary, Government
Newsom calls for $283.3M in cuts from court budget
By Malcolm Maclachlan
Just four months ago, Newsom proposed a record $222.2 billion budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, counting the state General F...
Criminal
Fresno County DA says prosecutors can file looting charges to keep theft suspects in jail
By Tyler Pialet
Fresno District Attorney Lisa A. Smittcamp issued a statement in April saying the state of emergency gives her line prosecutor...
Judges and Judiciary
Sacramento judge admonished for inappropriate remarks
By Justin Kloczko
Gary, on the bench for 18 years, made “undignified” and “sarcastic” comments toward parties in a contentious custody dispute, ...