The number of LGBTQ people serving on state courts across California continues to grow, marking a 4% increase over the last 14 years on the official annual tallies released by the Judicial Council of California. And, in 2025, the number of trial courts that had out judges saw a slight uptick for the first time in several years.

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Chicago last week to attend the funeral of Rev. Jesse Jackson, joining a gathering of prominent political leaders, clergy and civil rights figures paying tribute to one of the most influential voices in the modern civil rights movement. Overall, the report finds that the state’s judiciary has become steadily more representative of California’s population over the past 20 years

The symposium brought together prosecutors, city attorneys, law enforcement leaders, and mental health and violence  prevention advocates to advance implementation of California’s evolving firearm safety laws. 

Election staffer Laura Hobbs has successfully appealed a temporary restraining order, allowing a controversial ballot measure she helped champion to move forward. If approved by Shasta voters, the measure would amend the county’s charter to implement local election practices that would violate state and national law.