After a week of in-person appearances in multiple courthouses, I was reminded of the profound responsibility and privilege we ...
Technology
From feline filters to digital doppelgängers: When AI makes an appearance
By James Mixon
How California courts should respond to AI avatars, virtual surrogates, and evolving concepts of courtroom presence.
U.S. Supreme Court, Intellectual Property
Copyright after Loper Bright: New challenges for the copyright office?
By Sarah Van Voorhis, Ada Liu
The Supreme Court's 2024 Loper Bright ruling, which overturned Chevron deference, is unlikely to significantly ...
Wills, Estates & Trusts, Tax
Income tax considerations in estate planning: Part 1
By Robert W. Wood, Alex Z. Brown
Estate planning involves not only managing the distribution of assets but also addressing income tax considerations, such as t...
There is a nuanced distinction between a statute's "effective" date - the moment it becomes law--and its "operative" date--the...
Law Practice, Judges and Judiciary
The umpires strike back: Can jurors revive respect for the rule of law?
By Michael C. Kelley
Jurors can play a crucial role in rebuilding trust in the justice system by embodying the principle of "Out of Many, One," whe...
The FTC's push to break up Meta by forcing it to sell Instagram and WhatsApp could set a landmark antitrust precedent, reshapi...
Environmental & Energy, Administrative/Regulatory
The business case for food waste reduction in California
By Roberto Escobar
California's SB 1383 is transforming food waste from environmental liability into economic and climate opportunity, combining ...
Law Practice, Constitutional Law
Today, I will reaffirm my oath because the Constitution is under attack
By Sarah E. Galvin
Taking the oath to defend the U.S. Constitution is a solemn commitment to uphold the rule of law, judicial independence, and d...
Antitrust & Trade Reg.
Taking aim at algorithmic collusion: AB 325 and modernizing antitrust enforcement
By Caroline A. Yuen
A new bill from California's Legislature aims to modernize antitrust regulation for the AI era by outlawing algorithmic price ...
In Knellinger v. Young (2025), the 10th Circuit examined a case where Colorado's unclaimed property laws led to the s...
Environmental & Energy
Proposed amended Rule 1469: Balancing public health and industrial impacts
By Thierry R. Montoya
Proposed amendments to Rule 1469 by the South Coast AQMD aim to strengthen regulation of hexavalent chromium emissions to prot...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Letters
A license to lose confidence in the State Bar
By Eli Edward
The California Supreme Court must consider radical reforms, including reciprocity with other states and adoption of the Unifo...
Government, Administrative/Regulatory
Speed doesn't care who's driving, so why should the law?
By Richard Alexander, Eugene M. Hyman
It's time to replace outdated, court-based speed enforcement with automated civil penalties focused on the vehicle, not the ...
Immigration, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Unscrupulous landlords and attorneys who help them target immigrants could pay the price
By Gary W. Rhoades
Emblem and remedy: How a California housing rights law already uniquely protects immigrant tenants from unscrupulous landlords...
Government, Administrative/Regulatory
Trump's showering of deregulation may just go down the drain
By John H. Minan
Trump's push to fast-track deregulation bypasses Administrative Procedure Act rules, but courts--bolstered by Loper Bright--m...
Since the Covid pandemic, virtual mediation via platforms like Zoom has become the dominant method in California, with approxi...
A longtime attorney and former bar exam grader expresses outrage but not surprise at the State Bar's latest scandal involving ...
Technology, Data Privacy
CIPA meets AI: Genesys case signals compliance challenges ahead
By Pavel (Pasha) A. Sternberg, Kaitlyn N. Robles
At its core, the Genesys Cloud Services litigation extends established privacy principles to AI vendors, foreshadowing the com...
This article explores the use of misdemeanor convictions to impeach a witness's credibility in criminal cases, detailing when ...
Real Estate/Development, Administrative/Regulatory
California's Surplus Lands Act needs a reality check for rural parcels
By Brian D. Poulsen Jr.
Though well-intentioned, the act urgently needs reform to distinguish between viable housing sites and rural parcels like El D...
Law Practice
Understanding client needs and closing the deal: The competitive edge for modern lawyers
By George Brandon
Thriving lawyers today pair legal skills with empathy, clear communication, and trust-building to turn consultations into co...
Litigation & Arbitration, Civil Procedure
Early lessons on third-party subpoenas for California practitioners under SB 940
By David B. Coher
SB 940 expands discovery in California arbitrations, making civil-style subpoenas the new norm - unless parties clearly opt out.
Environmental & Energy
Red tape or green future? Unpacking California's climate disclosure laws and the pushback
By Noelle E. Wooten, Elizabeth Haskins
As the federal government retreats from climate regulation, California steps up with sweeping disclosure laws requiring large ...
How big tech defends algorithmic addiction in the name of the First Amendment.
Technology
AI takes center stage in the legal battle over digital creativity
By Schuyler M. Moore
AI developments are rapidly reshaping the legal landscape, with key issues like copyright infringement, trademark misuse, defa...
State Bar & Bar Associations
California bar exam plunges to new low amid scandal
By Mary Basick, Katie Moran
The California State Bar is facing a series of controversies, including the use of AI-generated questions on its bar exam, con...
Guide to Legal Writing, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Why mediation briefs fail in negotiations and how attorneys can improve them
By Richard M. Williams
The mediation brief is an important, if not essential, part of the process and should not be overlooked as an important tool f...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The power of pre-session calls in negotiations
By Lynn Duryee
Many mediators will contact counsel separately after they've read the briefs, allowing them to focus on settlement strategies ...
Labor/Employment, Insurance, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Insurance for employment disputes: Know what's covered before negotiating
By JJ Johnston
Employers rely on their risk management teams to evaluate and acquire insurance coverage, but unless they know the key feature...