Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero announced the recipients of the 2026 Civic Learning Awards, the state’s highest honor recognizing K–12 schools for outstanding achievement in civic education. One elementary school, one middle school, and one high school received the Civic Learning Award of Excellence, highlighting their exceptional programs that empower students to engage meaningfully in their communities and develop lifelong civic skills.

People charged with crimes in California must be granted bail in amounts they can afford unless they are accused of capital offenses, or face serious charges and pose a threat of violence if released, the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday. Lawyers said the decision could affect thousands of cases.

Cary Anthony Stayner, 64, made a host of challenges in his appeal to the state’s high court. He claimed authorities violated his Miranda rights, that he faced coercive questioning from law enforcement, and that police had no probable cause to arrest him. Stayner also argued the trial court judge made errors ranging from jury selection to judicial bias.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday reversed an order vacating the conviction and death sentence of a California man who admitted to raping a woman before setting her on fire, saying that District Court Judge Otis D. Wright II of the Central District of California wrongly found that the California Supreme Court acted unreasonably in rejecting the defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims in his state-court habeas corpus petition.