The California Supreme Court last week directed the State Bar of California to seek public comment on adopting a community justice worker program in which legal aid organizations would train and supervise nonlawyers to provide ​free limited legal services, though it did not specify what areas of law the program would cover.

A slate of new laws is set to go into effect on July 1. Among the changes coming are new rules impacting school restrooms, food labeling and restaurants, firearm sales and a minimum wage bump for scores of California workers.

In a May 28 decision in J.O. v. Superior Court, the California Supreme Court specifically cited Yolo County as an example of the dangers posed by blanket judicial challenges under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6, referencing the prosecution’s use of the statute to remove the county’s only Hispanic judge from hearing felony criminal cases.

(Subscription required) Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero has appointed four new voting members and four new advisory members to the Judicial Council. The appointments, announced Thursday, include judges, court administrators and attorneys from across the state. Two members will begin their terms July 1, while six others will join the council Sept. 15.