Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is facing a legal battle over his claim to a homestead exemption for his Palm Beach con...
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Legislative update: How AB 2016 transforms small estate probate procedures
By R. Sam Price
AB 2016 raises the value threshold for transferring a decedent's primary residence to $750,000, simplifying the process for ma...
California Courts of Appeal
Appointed-counsel are critical to access justice in Courts of Appeal
By Jennifer Hansen
Founded in 1986, the California Appellate Project in Los Angeles (CAP-LA) supports the Second District Court of Appeal by recr...
Civil Procedure, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
A win for common sense as the 9th Circuit updates FCA's first-to-file rule
By Zachary N. Zaharoff
The 9th Circuit, following other circuits, now treats the first-to-file rule as non-jurisdictional, providing courts with more...
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Michael Jackson's estate is neither strictly black nor white
By Megan A. Moghtaderi
The Estate of Michael Jackson exemplifies the common hurdles faced in probate cases, highlighting the intricate legal landscap...
Government
The presidential title tangle and debating bias in the media
By Mark B. Baer
When Theodore Roosevelt ran for president again in 1912, he was not referred to as "President Roosevelt," a contrast to the wa...
Eli Burnstein's book, "Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning," is a joy for book lo...
Real Estate/Development, Constitutional Law, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
9th Circuit reaffirms expansive First Amendment petition rights in real estate lawsuit
By Jillian N. London , Marissa Mulligan
While the ruling achieves the important end of emboldening the right to petition, it may also have the effect of emboldening l...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediation's role in tackling the surge of childhood abuse cases
By Keri Katz
California has extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault claims, leading to an influx of cases that cou...
Over 20 years ago, Paul Kiesel envisioned what a lawyer's practice might look like in 2027. Looking back at his article now, i...
Constitutional Law
Soured Lemon: What's next for the State's religion clauses?
By Ashfaq G. Chowdhury
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton discarded the Lemon test in favor of a "history and traditi...
AI tools help with issue selection, record review, and drafting but aren't ready to write full briefs. They're great for brain...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Finding your way to the exit in the labyrinth of mediation
By Greg Derin
Mediation is likened to a labyrinth where participants must navigate complex disputes with unclear paths to resolution, simila...
The Electoral College undermines the "one person, one vote" principle, giving disproportionate influence to smaller states lik...
Constitutional Law, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
A 9th Circuit panel draws lines on firearms in 'sensitive places'
By George M. Lee
In Wolford v. Lopez, the 9th Circuit assessed whether modern firearms regulations align with historical traditions, d...
Law Office Management
Are AI-driven CRM systems the future for law firms?
By George Brandon
"Discover how AI-driven CRM systems could revolutionize law firm relationship management, automating data updates and enhanc...
Technology, Ethics/Professional Responsibility, Data Privacy
Lawyers beware - Google may be monitoring your legal research
By Anita Taff-Rice
Lawsuit alleges Google collects search data even in private browsing mode
Labor/Employment, California Supreme Court
Mediating single-incident harassment claims post-Bailey
By JJ Johnston
The California Supreme Court has now opened the door for more employees to bring harassment claims under FEHA while, presumabl...
Evidence, Civil Litigation
Finding nuggets of gold in percipient witnesses
By Atticus N. Wegman
Percipient witnesses add credibility and relatability to a case, as jurors often find them more sincere and easier to connec...
U.S. Supreme Court, Land Use, Government
Are local governments violating Supreme Court exaction precedents?
By Michael M. Berger
Despite Supreme Court rulings requiring a direct link between development projects and financial exactions, municipalities vio...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Letters
Committee of Bar Examiners stand ready to act on February California Bar Exam and experiment
By Alex Chan
Experiment participants would only be eligible to receive a grading adjustment if they meet a minimum threshold score in order...
U.S. Supreme Court, Family
Recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling influences business valuations in family law cases
By Dean Hansell
The Court concluded that the cash value of a life insurance policy increases a business's fair market value, regardless of its...
Letters, Judges and Judiciary
It's time to end judicial elections in California
By William M. Crosby
Judge Eugene H. Hyman rightly points out the expense of holding judicial elections, and the lack of meaningful knowledge rega...
Litigation & Arbitration, Evidence
Legal loopholes: Navigating third-party subpoena restrictions in arbitration pretrial discovery
By Tricia A. Bigelow
Despite restrictions on prehearing third-party subpoenas in arbitration under federal and state laws, carefully crafted arbitr...
Proper settlement agreement wording is crucial to avoid tax issues and ensure favorable tax outcomes.
The current conservative majority on the Supreme Court is unlikely to change its stance, but future shifts in the Court's co...
Civil Procedure
Section 998's cost-shifting mechanism: A closer look at the controversy
By David B. Wasson
The cost-shifting mechanism under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 998 infringes on defendants' constitutional rights.
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Gun control: 9th Circuit restricts in some places, but not all
By Philip M. Howe
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals made a significant ruling on gun control laws, affirming and reversing preliminary inj...
Juries are meant to resolve civil disputes, but few cases ever reach them today. What if the traditional voice of 'The Peopl...
China has ended its overseas adoption program after nearly forty years, marking a significant shift in the country's child p...