(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 Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday rejected the proposition that doctors at a veteran’s hospital should be subjected to a heightened standard of care in light of ex-soldiers being at a higher risk of committing suicide than the general populace, affirming a defense judgment in a wrongful death case brought by the parents of a man who served in the Army, experienced post traumatic stress disorder, and killed himself.

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.