California’s court reporter shortage has gotten so bad that thousands of people, including alleged domestic violence victims, no longer have a written record of their civil cases, making it harder for them to exercise their constitutional right to appeal.

The California Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will grant a review of the 5th District Court of Appeals decision that overturned a Kern County judge’s previous ruling that said water needs to be kept in the Kern River at fish-friendly levels.

Immigration advocates in San Francisco scored a victory this week as a judge blocked federal officials from detaining without a court hearing a Bay Area activist previously convicted of a violent crime, in a case that attracted dozens of supporters at several rallies.

The EpicentRx case is expected to decide whether a forum selection clause is enforceable when a party’s right under California state law to a jury trial for their civil claims would not apply in the exclusive forum identified by the clause.