A woman who pled guilty to felony animal cruelty was improperly required, as a condition of probation, not to possess or have contact with pets for the rest of her life, Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal has held.

See this year's highlights of the judicial branch actions, initiatives, and achievements that helped to improve access to justice for the people of California.

The walkway has been a point of enduring contention between the county and a group of 27 homeowners known as the Rio Del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association for the better part of a decade. The county has argued that paved stretch of land on the back side of the homes is a public right-of-way and point of coastal access, while the homeowners have contended that it’s a private patio space.

(Subscription required) The state bar is still weighing whether to continue its plan to roll out a brand new licensing test just for California applicants, after its attempt in February 2025 was marred by technology meltdowns and concern that several questions got the law wrong. The bar also admitted to using ChatGPT to generate 29 of the test’s 200 multiple choice questions.