• California will use new national bar exam after failed online test

    Reuters
    July 16, 2026

    The California ​Supreme Court on Wednesday approved moving to the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, which is the updated exam from the ‌National Conference of Bar Examiners that is set to debut later this month. It also ordered the State Bar of California to develop a California law-specific section to supplement the NextGen exam.

    Related: ABA Journal

  • SLO County has to replace ‘seismically deficient’ courthouse. Now it has $320M for it

    San Luis Obispo Tribune
    July 15, 2026

    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.

  • New law lets prosecutors combine sex crime cases across county lines

    Daily Journal
    July 15, 2026

    (Subscription required) Supporters say the measure will spare victims from repeated testimony, while legislative analysts note potential due process concerns.

  • School-District Immunity Turns on Location of Negligent Act

    Metropolitan News-Enterprise
    July 15, 2026

    Div. Two of the Fourth District Court of Appeal has held that a public educational district may be liable for harm occurring off-campus and unrelated to officially sanctioned activities, despite a California law providing immunity for conduct occurring “when [a] pupil is not on school property,” if the plaintiff can point to an on-site negligent act that led to her injuries.