Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal has held that voters cannot override a state law providing that the U.S. flag must be “placed in the position of first honor” on all public poles by passing a city initiative mandating that an “Earth” pennant be flown above all others on municipal sites, finding that the measure is preempted.

A consumer advocacy group suing Walmart Inc. under Proposition 65 for allegedly failing to warn that items offered for sale by the retail giant contained chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm is not bound by an agreement to arbitrate purportedly entered into by the organization’s agent who purchased the offending products, Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal held yesterday.

A legislative push to create an expedited licensing path for former federal attorneys has been shelved for the year, even as multiple reform efforts continue in response to a troubled bar exam and mounting criticism of the California State Bar's governance.

"During this challenging fiscal time, I appreciate the Governor’s and the Legislature’s commitment to maintaining critical judicial branch programs and services.  The funding provided for our courts—including support for language access, treatment court programs, court-appointed counsel, and facilities improvements—helps us perform our functions as a coequal branch for the benefit of communities throughout the state."