California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said she is “deeply concerned” by reports that federal authorities are arresting people at state courthouses. That statement came just days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted an operation inside and in front of a Butte County court in Oroville, about 65 miles north of Sacramento.

In addition to accessing court records, the new system, called re:Search CA, allows members of the public to also build dashboards for specific cases, create custom court calendars, set up reminders for upcoming hearings and receive alerts when new documents are filed related to cases.  

(Subscription required) Whether issuing a rare directed verdict mid-trial or swiftly excusing a juror facing emotional strain, Superior Court Judge Sheila O. Recio runs her courtroom with a disciplined calm shaped by decades of legal experience -- and a willingness to admit when she's wrong.

Judy Walker, jury operations manager for the Solano County Superior Court, acknowledged that the legal system can seem very complicated for first-time jurors. “There’s a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that not everyone is privy to,” she said. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your first jury duty summons.