The California Supreme Court this week reversed the death sentence of a Los Angeles Bloods gang member convicted of killing a rival Crip in the early 1990s because a prosecutor compared him to a dangerous animal, the first reversal of a death sentence by the California Supreme Court because of violations of the Racial Justice Act. 

(Subscription required) California’s Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared poised to blunt the reach of a state law that largely bars the use of electronic recording in courtrooms, even when court reporters are not available. Justices seemed to wrestle, however, with what limits—if any—to place on courts that use the recording technology given California’s anti-recording law and ongoing complaints from licensed stenographers who say administrators will use their recording authority to replace their jobs.

(Subscription required) The governor’s unveiling of his latest appellate picks follows the Commission on Judicial Appointments’ approval two weeks ago of five justices. If the commission confirms Newsom’s current round of appointments as expected, the state will have just a handful of vacancies on the courts of appeal as the governor heads into his final months in office.

Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero joined judges, court administrators, and locally elected officials on May 29 to commemorate the new Hall of Justice courthouse for the Superior Court of Sonoma County.