The California Supreme Court held yesterday that amendments to Penal Code §1170(b), adopted in 2022, that limit a sentencing judge to the middle term absent a stipulation by the defendant or jury findings as to certain aggravating circumstances apply to all non-final judgments even if a high term was imposed as part of a pre-enactment, negotiated plea deal that resulted in more serious charges being dismissed.

(Subscription required) Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason told the Commission on Judicial Performance she did not intend to be insensitive when she questioned jurors' abilities to read and understand English.

Power of Democracy leads Justice McConnell, Judge Alloggiamento and award co-sponsor Chief Justice Guerrero closed the event by announcing the recipients of the 2026 Civic Learning Awards, a statewide program that honors California K–12 schools for exceptional commitments to civic education.

(Subscription required) Torrance Superior Court Judge Alan B. Honeycutt says lessons in empathy learned as a child living in Iran continue to shape his approach to judging nearly two decades into his judicial career.