| Case # | Name | Category | Court | Judge | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
B344569
|
In re Lynex
Trial court erred by requiring petitioner to make a prima facie showing of entitlement to relief under the Racial Justice Act to secure appointment of counsel. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
H. Bendix | Feb. 23, 2026 |
|
24-1287
|
Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump
Statutory grant of authority to regulate importation did not authorize the President to impose tariffs. |
Tax |
|
J. Roberts | Feb. 23, 2026 |
|
24-386
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Ruiz
District court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of defendant's prior conviction where it satisfied each prong for admissibility under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). |
Evidence |
|
D. Cole | Feb. 23, 2026 |
|
24-1921
|
U.S. v. Castro Alavez
District court erroneously instructed jury that the government need not prove defendant's intent to possess a specified drug and quantity for the purposes of 21 U.S.C. section 841(b)(1). |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
R. Desai | Feb. 23, 2026 |
|
23-55299
|
Ratha v. Rubicon Resources,LLC
Because Congressional amendment to Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act intended for attempt liability to apply retroactively, plaintiffs' request for summary judgment relief should have been granted. |
Civil Procedure |
|
S. Graber | Feb. 23, 2026 |
|
E085722
|
Flareau v. Superior Court (People)
Trial court erroneously denied mental health diversion, where defendant's conduct was motivated by both his mental health diagnoses and another factor the court deemed "more motivating." |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
C. Codrington | Feb. 20, 2026 |
|
25-1760
|
Garcia Morales v. Bondi
Order |
|
Feb. 20, 2026 | ||
|
D086351
|
People v. Gutierrez
Enhancement for arson committed in area proclaimed to be in state of emergency not supported by evidence where People failed to provide proof regarding the geographical scope of the proclamation. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
T. Do | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
D084360
|
Hatlevig v. General Motors LLC
Motion for attorneys' fees was untimely, where attorney filed but did not serve motion within 180 days of voluntary dismissal. |
Fees and Costs |
|
J. Irion | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
B333649
|
Bagby v. Davis
Because California law governs collection actions in California courts regardless of judgment debtor's domicile, trial court properly applied California exemption statutes to deny judgment debtor's claim. |
Remedies, Civil Procedure |
|
H. Zukin | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
25-6268
|
State of Oregon v. Trump
Order |
|
Feb. 19, 2026 | ||
|
C100433
|
Nichols v. Alghannam
Sustaining demurrer to fifth amended complaint without leave to amend was appropriate where the plaintiffs failed to bring their medical malpractice claim against the demurring party within the limitations period. |
Health Care |
|
J. Renner | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
D085406
|
Bishop v. San Diego County Employees Retirement Assn.
Former public employee's public benefits could be forfeited after he pleaded guilty to felony charge despite trial court reducing his conviction from felony to misdemeanor. |
Government, Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
J. McConnell | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
E085256
|
People v. T.B.
Penal Code section 2679 does not require a surrogate decisionmaker's consent before the court may make a finding that would authorize electroconvulsive therapy on defendants who lack capacity to consent. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Raphael | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
D084385
|
Haun v. Pagano
Awarding fees to prevailing party in cross-petitions alleging financial elder abuse did not violate unilateral statutory fee-shifting provision's legislative purpose because work defending and prosecuting the claim were inextricably intertwined. |
Fees and Costs |
|
J. McConnell | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
23-3848
|
U.S. v. Ho-Romero
District court erred in applying the obstruction of justice enhancement without making the requisite "willful" mens rea finding--i.e., that defendant acted with the purpose of obstructing justice. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. Berzon | Feb. 19, 2026 |
|
24-5966
|
U.S. v. Brandenburg
A non-public-facing security response to a threat may qualify as a "substantial disruption of governmental functions" under U.S. Sentencing Guideline 2A6.1(b)(4)(A). |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
M. McKeown | Feb. 18, 2026 |
|
A169256
|
People v. Alston
Trial court's failure to provide any reasons at all for overruling defense objection to peremptory challenge based on presumptively invalid reasons required reversal. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
G. Burns | Feb. 18, 2026 |
|
B339037
|
Diaz v. Thor Motor Coach, Inc.
Where defendant's warranty provision regarding choice of law was unconscionable as a violation of public policy, its mid-litigation offer to apply California law did not cure substantive defect. |
Consumer Law, Contracts |
|
V. Viramontes | Feb. 18, 2026 |
|
F087625
|
Modification: People v. Dixon
Defendant's grand jury transcripts were not admissible under Penal Code section 1172.6(d)(3)'s hearsay exception. |
Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence |
|
K. Meehan | Feb. 17, 2026 |
|
23-4169
|
Bates v. Pakseresht
Order |
|
Feb. 17, 2026 | ||
|
25-1069
|
Cashion Family Trust
Bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in electing a drastic remedy by entering order declaring party a vexatious litigant and imposing pre-filing restrictions in the bankruptcy court. |
Bankruptcy, Remedies |
|
J. Brand | Feb. 17, 2026 |
|
25-2491
|
Amended Opinion: Northwest Association of Independent Schools v. Labrador
Idaho statute forbidding schools and libraries from making "harmful" content in the "context in which it is used" available to minors was unconstitutionally overbroad. |
Constitutional Law |
|
M. Smith | Feb. 13, 2026 |
|
25-1095
|
In re Richard Garcia
Trust that was highest bidder at nonjudicial foreclosure auction did not qualify as a prospective owner-occupant because the trustee at the time of the sale was not a natural person. |
Bankruptcy |
|
J. Niemann | Feb. 13, 2026 |
|
24-1947
|
Cox v. Gritman Medical Center
Idaho physician on Idaho/Washington border was subject to personal jurisdiction in Washington by electronically transmitting prescriptions from Idaho to Washington, which required compliance with Washington law. |
Civil Procedure |
|
D. Forrest | Feb. 12, 2026 |
|
24-2815
|
The GEO Group v. Inslee
Order |
|
Feb. 12, 2026 | ||
|
B339253
|
People v. Diaz
Trial court was not required to consider criminal defendant's youth during resentencing proceedings where it determined she was a direct aider and abettor who acted with intent to kill. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
G. Weingart | Feb. 12, 2026 |
|
A171602
|
People v. Flores
Probation condition permitting warrantless searches of drug-possession-for-sale defendant's electronic devices and requiring disclosure of passwords was not overbroad. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
T. Desautels | Feb. 12, 2026 |
|
B338698
|
In re Reyna R.
Juvenile court erred in ordering father to pay for a professional visitation monitor without first evaluating his ability to pay and reasonable alternatives for monitored visitation. |
Dependency |
|
V. Viramontes | Feb. 11, 2026 |
|
A171619
|
In re J.C.
Because brandishing an imitation firearm under Penal Code section 417.4 does not trigger section 29820's firearm prohibition, juvenile court exceeded its authority in banning juvenile from owning firearms until age 30. |
Juveniles |
|
C. Fujisaki | Feb. 11, 2026 |