The Pew Charitable Trusts examined data from the Court Statistics Project and found that landlord-tenant cases—largely composed of evictions—make up nearly a quarter of civil cases filed in state and local courts. Even if families facing eviction ultimately remain in their homes, the court process can have a profound impact on their long-term stability and well-being. 

(Subscription required) San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Kenneth R. McDaniel experienced both dependency and custody proceedings as a child. Decades later, he presides over family court with a philosophy shaped by what that felt like.

(Subscription required) Four rulings set limits on automatic reversal, sharpening a fight between lawmakers, judges and advocates over whether racism can be "harmless."

The state high court decided on May 28 that California Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6—the judicial disqualification process for judges believed to be prejudiced against a party—violates the separation of powers and can be challenged.