Since April of last year, the Supreme Court has been hearing cases and conferencing remotely. But, with California and most of the country reopening from pandemic restrictions, the court is now assessing a return to normal operations, with the possibility of counsel opting to still argue remotely.

See actions of note at yesterday’s Supreme Court conference — the first one since April that was not a double conference.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that newly released records show pay-outs by the Judicial Council of $1.9 million since 2018 in settlement of sexual harassment claims, including a previously undisclosed payment in 2018 of $250,000 payment to an alleged victim of then-Court of Appeal Justice Jeffrey Johnson.

After several weeks of back-and-forth actions on the rules changes, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board on Thursday approved revisions that, in addition to ending mask requirements in most places for vaccinated workers, will also eliminate the use of workplace barriers and physical distancing.