Governor Gavin Newsom appointed six new judges to California Superior Courts in Tulare, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, all of whom are Democrats and will fill vacancies created by retirements or judicial elevations.
Proposition 36 has failed to deliver on its promises of safety, accountability, and mass treatment, instead fueling incarceration, straining local budgets, and deepening racial disparities across California, according to the Prosecutors Alliance and criminal justice reform advocates.
YIMBY Law has filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order suspending SB 9 in high fire hazard severity zones within the burn areas, arguing that it unlawfully undermines the state’s own housing laws, deepens the housing emergency created by the fires, and gives wealthy jurisdictions improper power to block modest infill housing.
The ACLU of Southern California has released a report criticizing Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s first year in office, citing his reinstatement of the death penalty, support for punitive practices, and opposition to racial justice protections and diversion programs.
Los Angeles County has launched a new pilot removal defense program to provide legal representation to immigrants facing deportation proceedings, funded by unclaimed cy pres funds from the Roy settlement.
One year after California voters passed Proposition 36, Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia has warned that the measure has failed to address the root causes of addiction and poverty, and has instead led to increased incarceration and racial inequities in the justice system.
The California Apartment Association has warned that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ decision to declare a local state of emergency in response to federal immigration enforcement actions is a dangerous trend of normalizing emergency powers as a political tool to suspend property rights.
A judge released a woman on her own recognizance after she had already served nearly as much time as the sentence would require, citing her past trauma and opportunities for rehabilitation programs in multiple counties.
The Torrance City Council is considering an ordinance that would make it illegal for homeless people to refuse shelter, while also considering the creation of military-style camps with tents to expand temporary housing.
Los Angeles attorney Aaron Spolin has been disbarred by the California Supreme Court for exploiting incarcerated clients and their families by charging excessive legal fees and misleading them about their potential for release under Assembly Bill 2942.
A Los Angeles County judge denied a motion for a retrial for a man whose attorney argued there were multiple serious failings by prior counsel, and set bail on appeal at $100,000.
A defense attorney requested a judge to recall an outstanding bench warrant for a man who was deported while serving jail time, but the judge denied the request due to the age of the case and procedural limits on the court’s authority.
A Los Angeles County judge denied a motion to reduce charges against a man charged with attempted second-degree robbery, despite concerns about possible mental health issues, and set his bail at $50,000.
Claremont City Councilmember Jed Leano argues that California’s housing affordability crisis is caused by a lack of homes and a political process that favors obstruction over solutions, and he supports SB 79, a state housing bill that would allow more housing to be built near publicly funded transit stops, bypassing some of the approval hurdles that give veto power to homeowners opposed to new development.
The Steinberg Institute and iFoster have launched a new website to expand access for opportunity youth to careers in behavioral health, providing peer support training and creating long-term, sustainable career opportunities within California’s behavioral health workforce.
Judge Giza granted ROR to a man in a mental health diversion program, with the condition that he refrain from drinking, after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution regarding his homelessness, mental illness, and public intoxication.
The Education Justice Coalition has released a report highlighting the systemic failures of Los Angeles County in providing meaningful educational opportunities to incarcerated youth, and calls for immediate action to reform the juvenile system.
A man accused of multiple charges was denied release on supervised own recognizance, leaving him unable to return to Los Angeles County to report to parole within 48 hours, potentially triggering a warrant for his arrest.
Judge Christopher W. Dybwad presided over the trial of a man charged with felony possession of a firearm by a former felon, with the prosecution presenting evidence of the man’s arrest and the firearm’s recovery, while the defense argued that the man was only apprehended because he fit the mold of a usual suspect.
The U.S. Department of Justice has requested data from California sheriffs on non-citizen jail incarcerated people to help federal immigration authorities prioritize the removal of individuals who committed crimes after entering the U.S. without authorization.