In a rare judicial debate, two challengers of San Francisco Superior Court judges in the March 2024 election described themselves as champions of public safety while portraying the city as awash in crime and drugs. But they presented little criticism of the incumbent judges or their decisions.

Part of a California law allowing “three strikes” inmates to seek reductions in their life sentence if their third felony conviction was neither serious nor violent was ruled invalid Friday by a state appeals court, which said it conflicted with the voters’ intent to protect the public.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is starting to question just how effective the state’s new push to help homeless and mentally ill people through court-mandated services actually is.

Supervisors are also questioning resources behind the new program, dubbed CARE Court, that local officials say is a voluntary program in which a Superior Court judge can order mental health treatment for residents.

When you get to the part of the ballot that asks you to vote for a local judge, have you ever thought, “am I qualified to make this decision?” While federal court trial and appellate judges are appointed and enjoy lifetime tenures, state court judges often have to run for election or re-election, and most voters have scant information on the candidates.