This week, the state's highest court chose not to review an appeal from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and a deputy labor group. The decision leaves in place a March appeals court ruling that gives IOLERO, Sonoma County's Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach, the ability to investigate whistleblower complaints.

A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from imposing “anti-DEI” conditions on grants sought by 11 cities and counties in California and Oregon from the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Interior, and FEMA. California-based U.S. District Judge William Orrick granted the municipalities a preliminary injunction. 

Div. Four of the First District Court of Appeal held Friday that a contract provision providing that the prevailing party in any litigation under the agreement is authorized to recover attorney fees covers any expenses attributable to paralegal services, highlighting that a contrary reading would incentivize higher billings and operate in contradiction to the term’s demand that the payout be “reasonable.”

The Supreme Court is asking for millions of dollars from Congress to draft plans for a new facility to screen visitors outside the court’s home on Capitol Hill, as security threats against the justices mount. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to make a rare appearance at the Capitol to testify about the court’s more than $200 million request.