Administrative Presiding Justice Laurie M. Earl announced the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, will hear oral argument at Sutter County Superior Courthouse on March 25 beginning at 10 a.m. More than 100 students from surrounding schools are expected to attend, and interested members of the public, attorneys, and judges are also welcome. 

Div. Five of this district’s Court of Appeal held yesterday that a trial judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting evidence regarding the condition of trees of the same species and in the general vicinity as one that injured the plaintiff by dropping branches on him unexpectedly, reasoning that the testimony was relevant to whether the city was aware of a dangerous condition of municipal property.

(Subscription required) A former teacher, aerospace worker and cyclist, Heath T. Langle built a probate career shaped by family influence, personal loss and a union dispute that once put him on the Wall Street Journal's front page.

(Subscription required) Judge Anthony Johnstone questioned whether the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—based on its expertise—may draw a line on what gun components are considered “readily” convertible.