In 2017, FEMA stamped a P-154 “high-risk” seismic rating on the building — a 3.1 out of 10 — meaning it has a high potential for structural damage or collapse during an earthquake. Overdue maintenance and security refresh needs on the building would cost $10 million alone, the proposal said.

(Subscription required) The percentage of U.S. federal civil cases filed by self-represented litigants hit 16.8% in 2025, marking a jump from the 2005-2022 average of 11%, and many of these more recent pro se cases involve AI-generated filings. Experts say courts must act, or the mounting caseloads will add even more strain to a judiciary already fatigued by growing workloads and underfunding.

It was the first time any of the justices answered questions from lawmakers since 2019, and the discussion before House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees quickly moved to other topics, including the court’s emergency docket, ethics rules and harsh rhetoric targeting the justices. 

(Subscription required) Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Sharon M. Anderson has spent more than three decades working almost exclusively in probate law. Now assigned to the court's Probate and Mental Health Division, she draws on that experience to handle conservatorship, guardianships, and other protective proceedings, focusing on preserving as much personal autonomy as possible while safeguarding vulnerable individuals.