DA Brooke Jenkins Clashes with Retired Judge in High-Stakes Feud Over San Francisco’s Judicial Ethics and Transparency

SAN FRANCISCO — A recent exacerbation in the conflict between San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, stemming from Cordell’s departure from the San Francisco Innocence Commission, underscores a deeper, more contentious debate over judicial independence and prosecutorial conduct in the city. Cordell, who has served the judiciary for decades, opted to resign due to what she described as Jenkins’ “shameful and unethical” attacks on current judges. These, she argues, not only threaten judicial independence but also potentially jeopardize the safety of judges by inflaming public sentiment through social media and … Read more

Surveillance Showdown: San Francisco’s Use of License Plate Cameras Faces Legal Challenge Over Privacy Infringements

San Francisco – A widespread lawsuit has been filed against Flock Safety, a company that supplies surveillance cameras widely employed by various municipalities in the Bay Area, including San Francisco. The legal action, initiated by the public interest law firm Institute for Justice in a federal court in Virginia on Monday, raises profound concerns regarding the invasion of privacy through what is termed as a pervasive “dragnet” facilitated by these cameras. The powerful contention at the heart of this lawsuit is the alleged violation of Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens from unreasonable searches. According … Read more

San Francisco’s Creative Approach to Sidestep State Environmental Legislation

San Francisco, California – The city of San Francisco is embarking on a mission to circumvent a state environmental law that requires local communities to approve new commercial developments. To achieve this, the city is proposing a sweeping rezoning plan that would categorize such projects as “recreational amenities,” thereby bypassing the need for public approval. The primary driver of this move is a desire to expedite the development of mixed-use projects, such as office buildings with integrated housing or retail spaces. By reclassifying these projects as recreational amenities, San Francisco intends to streamline the approval … Read more

Supreme Court Ruling Holds Key to San Francisco’s Homelessness Lawsuit – Delays Awaited

San Francisco, California – A lawsuit in San Francisco that aimed to address the issue of homelessness has been put on hold as it awaits a forthcoming Supreme Court ruling in a similar case in Grants Pass, Oregon. The San Francisco suit, which had the potential to set a precedent for addressing homelessness across the city, has been halted pending the outcome of the Grants Pass ruling. The lawsuit in San Francisco sought to compel the city to find solutions for its homeless population, arguing that the current approach was not effectively addressing the issue. … Read more