Residents in the Fresno area have been asked to weigh in on a $750 million project to build the next Fresno County Courthouse. The nearly 60-year-old courthouse on Van Ness Avenue between Fresno and Tulare streets has been deemed risky to earthquake damage, as well as overcrowded and less than ideal for the daily needs of Fresno County.

A judge erred in ruling that California statutes restricting use of the word “organic” on product labels and advertising apply only to agricultural products, Div. Two of the First District Court of Appeal has held, reinstating a lawsuit by an environmental advocacy group against the maker of feminine hygiene merchandise.

The California Supreme Court yesterday held that a mother’s appeal of a judge’s determination that her children are subject to the juvenile court’s jurisdiction and must be removed from her care is not moot even though her parental rights were later restored where the underlying allegations require the governing welfare agency to report her to the Department of Justice for inclusion in a statewide database of child abuse incidents.

(Subscription required) She now manages a busy and emotionally volatile family law calendar at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. "I didn't realize the volume," she said. "So many cases every single day. I wish I could spend an hour with each one, but I can't, so I need things to be quick and to the point. I need to know what's going on."