(Subscription required) The Commission on Judicial Performance on Tuesday publicly admonished Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason for comments to two prospective jurors that the commission said were rude, discourteous and created the appearance of bias or prejudice.

The Third District Court of Appeal held yesterday that a defendant’s speedy trial rights were violated where the case was called on the last day of the statutory window and the judge heard multiple motions in limine but put jury selection over for the next day due to a new court policy to not summon potential panelists on Mondays.

The California Supreme Court held yesterday that amendments to Penal Code §1170(b), adopted in 2022, that limit a sentencing judge to the middle term absent a stipulation by the defendant or jury findings as to certain aggravating circumstances apply to all non-final judgments even if a high term was imposed as part of a pre-enactment, negotiated plea deal that resulted in more serious charges being dismissed.

(Subscription required) Torrance Superior Court Judge Alan B. Honeycutt says lessons in empathy learned as a child living in Iran continue to shape his approach to judging nearly two decades into his judicial career.