California

California Appellate Court Orders Rehearing for Black Man Alleging Racial Bias in 2022 Traffic Stop

by

SAN DIEGO — A Black man in California is getting another opportunity to prove that his traffic stop and subsequent arrest by San Diego police in 2022 was influenced by unconscious racial bias. The state appellate court is testing California’s Racial Justice Act and has ordered a rehearing of the case, considering the idea of implicit bias. The court found that the initial judge failed to address significant evidence suggesting that the traffic stop may have been a result of unintended racial bias. The ruling, which was published last week, stems from one of the … Read more

Increasing Access to Fair Representation: Advocating for Equitable District Maps in California

by

Ventura, California – The redrawing of district maps in California is a crucial process that takes place every decade following the release of updated Census data by the federal government. These new boundaries must accurately represent the state’s population and serve as the basis for Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts. To ensure fairness and nonpartisanship, California established an independent commission, authorized by the Voters First Act in 2008, to undertake this task. Composed of 14 members, the commission comprises five Republicans, five Democrats, and four individuals not affiliated with … Read more

Northern California Syndicate Members Convicted for Multi-Million Dollar Drug Operation, Including Fentanyl and Cocaine Seizures

by

SAN FRANCISCO, California – Three members of syndicates in Northern California have been convicted of multiple narcotics offenses after an eight-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The trial presented evidence from intercepted calls between April 2018 and February 2019 as part of a federal wiretap investigation into two drug suppliers in the East Bay. The intercepted calls revealed that the suppliers obtained drugs from sources in Mexico. Federal prosecutors showcased several significant drug seizures as evidence, including 8.8 pounds of fentanyl and heroin valued at up to $1.1 million, 18 pounds of methamphetamine, … Read more

Remembering Retired Butte County Superior Court Judge Ann Rutherford: A Trailblazer in the California Judiciary

by

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – Ann H. Rutherford, a groundbreaking figure in the California judiciary and a highly regarded member of the legal community in Butte County, has passed away, according to the county’s superior court. Retiring from the Butte County Superior Court in 2001, Rutherford continued to serve through the Judicial Council of California’s Assigned Judges Program until her full retirement in August 2017. Rutherford’s legacy as the first female judge in the Butte County Superior Court began in 1976 when she was appointed to the Chico Municipal Court by Governor Jerry Brown. Her election … Read more