Federal court-appointed defense attorneys haven’t received pay since July, with some facing eviction as they continue defending indigent criminal defendants free of charge. The months-long funding crisis has cut available panel attorneys from around 85 to 15, threatening the constitutional right to counsel for federal defendants.

The Judicial Council of California met with 50 Santa Clarita Valley residents Wednesday to talk about the council’s plans for an eight-story courthouse at the former site of The Greens miniature golf course on McBean Parkway.  

In its November 6 decision, which was unanimous via the main opinion and two concurring ones, the Supreme Court upheld anti-discrimination protections of LGBTQ residents of long-term care facilities in the Golden State. The court’s opinion holds that the law’s requirement that facility staff refer to LGBTQ residents by their proper name and gender does not violate anyone’s right to free speech.

(Subscription required) From prosecuting methamphetamine cases in 1990s San Diego to presiding over Veterans Treatment Court, Superior Court Judge Laura Birkmeyer applies the same investigative rigor to recovery that she once brought to dismantling drug supply chains--measuring progress in sobriety milestones and structured accountability.