A judge, after a police officer referred in testimony to the defendant’s “moniker,” properly admonished the witness, outside the presence of the jury, to use, instead, the word “nickname,” Div. Eight of the Court of Appeal for this district said yesterday, holding that this sufficiently guarded against further prejudice and that declaring a mistrial—on the theory that the term that was used connotes gang membership—was not required.

The California Supreme Court on August 28 reversed the death sentence of Jason Alejandro Aguirre, ruling that changes in state law governing gang enhancements invalidated the basis for his capital punishment. The unanimous decision among the concurring justices affirms Aguirre’s murder and attempted murder convictions but removes the death penalty and all gang-related findings.

(Subscription required) The justices cited tightened proof standards for gang allegations. The unanimous ruling marks the third time in 10 days the high court has invoked the statute to undo gang-related sentences.

Alameda County is violating a reporter’s constitutional rights by prohibiting him and other spectators from standing within 200 feet of the automobile street stunts known as sideshows, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.