Six cases remain to be decided, including whether President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship can take effect anywhere in the United States.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal has held that the Los Angeles Superior Court—which in 1985 sentenced a murderer to 15 years to life plus seven years—was without jurisdiction when, on Sept. 30, 2024, Judge Ricardo R. Ocampo granted the defendant, who is suffering from cancer, a compassionate release from prison, pursuant to Penal Code §1172.2.

Since 2023, more than 1.7 million family law, restraining order, probate and other civil proceedings have had no written transcriptions, according to the Judicial Branch of California. That’s because there’s a statewide shortage of certified court reporters. When no reporters are available, state law, with a few exceptions, bans recording in courtrooms, even though many courts have recording devices.

Over eight, intensive weekly sessions, Alcantara and other Sacramento-area residents learned to put their days in prison behind them and instead embrace job interviews, college advisement and vision boards filled with dreams and second chances.