Since California courts began tracking civil arrests at courthouses June 1 under a new statewide reporting rule, Stanislaus County Superior Court has reported seven — all made by ICE, Court Executive Officer Hugh Swift told The Bee.  The actions are part of what attorneys, prosecutors, and court officials describe as renewed courthouse immigration enforcement that is raising questions about court access, public safety and the administration of justice.

Immigration law scams surged in the past year and a half, since the Trump administration’s crackdown resulted in thousands of new cases flooding the court system, attorneys and immigrant aid groups say.

CARE Court allows family members, first responders and others to ask a court — by way of a petition — to step in with a voluntary care agreement for someone living with serious, untreated mental illness, such as schizophrenia, to receive community-based mental health services. County officials said petitions filed in L.A. County jumped by about 85% between November 2025 and March 2026, with March seeing a total of 68 petitions.

(Subscription required) Orange County Superior Court Judge John R. Zitny has helped reshape judicial education by tailoring training to judges' needs, promoting small-group instruction and encouraging thoughtful adoption of new technologies while drawing on decades of trial experience.