A couple of weeks ago, the court ruled on 164 matters; today, just 53 rulings, seven less than last year’s final conference.

(Subscription required) According to figures compiled by the Daily Journal, at least 87 California judges and justices have retired this year through November — a number will probably rise significantly once retirements through the end of the year are tallied — along with four deaths among sitting judges.

(Subscription required) In the few counties already using it, the CARE court system is too new for its success to be evaluated. It allows those with severe mental illness to be held and treated, sometimes without their consent.

As the Supreme Court prepares to decide what the government can do in terms of advising Facebook, Google and other social media platforms about concerns over content, California and other states urged the justices Tuesday to allow them to continue communicating with the companies.