According to recent analysis of industry trends, the number of court reporters in the U.S. has declined 21 percent over the last decade. Matt Riley, executive director of the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers, says this isn’t just a matter of a labor shortage, but “a growing constitutional crisis.”

Div. Two of the Fourth District Court of Appeal yesterday declared that husband-and-wife appellants, who are in pro per, who relied on non-existent legal authorities and fabricated quotes must pay the respondents’ attorney fees on appeal, but bounced the case back to the trial court to determine the amount of the recompense.

Div. Four of the First District Court of Appeal has affirmed an order imposing sanctions in the amount of $29,055 on a Palo Alto-area law firm and its founder for filing an amended complaint that asserts causes of action that were identical to those that were the subject of an earlier demurrer that was sustained without leave to amend, rejecting the view that the moving party’s inclusion of an incorrect date its notice of the request undermined the court’s jurisdiction.

(Subscription required) The California Senate Public Safety Committee on Wednesday passed SB 239, which would increase potential penalties for serious criminal threats against election officials, including judges.