Voters across California will be deciding whether to retain a number of justices on the states’ Supreme Court and appellate benches on the November 3 ballot. Standing for election this fall are six out members of the higher courts, including recently confirmed gay Associate Justice Charles Adams on the 6th District Court of Appeal.

The court will continue its practice of hearing oral argument in courtrooms around the state. In addition to a special outreach session, oral argument will be held in San Francisco (in January, March, May, September, and November); Sacramento (in February); and Los Angeles (in April, June, and December).

(Subscription required) After 30 years on the bench, Superior Court Commissioner Brad M. Fox draws on decades of criminal law experience to manage Torrance's Early Disposition Program, where dozens of misdemeanor cases can be resolved in a single morning.

(Subscription required) Two plaintiffs slated for the next round of Los Angeles bellwether trials against social media companies survived summary judgment, as a judge again rejected arguments from Meta that federal law and the First Amendment bar claims over allegedly addictive platform features.