California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Monday that requires firms seeking contracts with ​the state to provide safeguards against AI misuse, ‌including the generation of illegal content, harmful bias and violations of civil rights.

A consumer alert has been issued, warning Californians to beware of a scam involving fake court notices that demand payment from recipients. These notices, often received via text or email, state that there is an outstanding traffic or toll violation and instruct recipients to pay a fine or appear in court or face other penalties. 

(Subscription required) Judge Kimberly A. Repecka, a former public defender elected to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2024, presides over a high-volume domestic violence restraining order calendar in Pasadena, where many litigants appear without counsel. She emphasizes preparation, clear procedures and managing a demanding caseload. 

(Subscription required) The nearly 30-year-old Los Angeles County courtroom numbering system that sent those in search of Department 1 to Room Number 34 in Stanley Mosk Courthouse will end on May 4, and the often confusing system will be changed in other courthouses in the future.