The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals—not being bound by a requirement, such as that set forth in California’s Constitution, that appellate decisions put forth “reasons stated”—has affirmed a decision denying attorney fees and a trebling of damages in a trademark-infringement action against proprietors of “puppy mills,” saying, only: “We affirm on all issues for the reasons given by the district court.”

The Commission on Judicial Nominations on Friday gave a green light to the elevation of Tari Cody from the post of associate justice of the Court of Appeal for this district to presiding justice and confirmed Nicholas Daum’s step up from the Los Angeles Superior Court to this district’s appeals court. Also confirmed were Sonny S. Sandhu as an associate justice in the Fifth District and Charles Adams in the Sixth District.

(Subscription required) The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that trial courts must provide low-income civil litigants with an official verbatim record of court proceedings, including through electronic recording when a court reporter is unavailable. In a unanimous opinion authored by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, the court said California's chronic shortage of court reporters cannot leave litigants who cannot afford private reporters without a meaningful record for appeal.

Governor Gavin Newsom is directing state agencies to establish an AI Cyber Defense Program, strengthen cybersecurity coordination across state government, expand AI-enabled defenses for critical infrastructure and local governments, and improve preparedness for emerging AI cybersecurity incidents.