California

  • California Passes Law Extending New Protections to Mortgage Borrowers

    On September 20, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2424 (AB 2424), enacting new protections for mortgage borrowers in California. Effective January 1, 2025, this law introduces significant changes to foreclosure notification and sale requirements aimed at supporting borrowers facing financial hardship. Key Provisions of AB 2424 Third-Party Notification Requirement for Defaulting BorrowersUnder the…

  • California Sues Catholic Hospital for Refusing Emergency Abortion

    California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, sued Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka on Monday, accusing the Catholic hospital of refusing to provide an emergency abortion to a woman in February, despite her water breaking prematurely, which put her at risk of life-threatening infection and hemorrhage. Bonta charged the hospital with discriminating against pregnant patients and…

  • California Sues Exxon Over Global Plastic Pollution

    California and several environmental groups sued Exxon Mobil on Monday, accusing the oil giant of running a decades-long campaign that fueled global plastic waste pollution. During Climate Week in New York City, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit after completing a nearly two-year investigation, which he said revealed Exxon deliberately misled the public…

  • California governor signs legislation to protect entertainers from AI

    California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law on Tuesday that protect actors and performers from unauthorized use of their digital replicas in audio and visual productions. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT AI has influenced the entertainment industry for decades, but recent advances in generative AI—such as robots creating music as digital pop stars—have sparked debate.…

  • Ninth Circuit Partially Reinstates Hawaii and California Firearm Carry Restrictions

    The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has partially reinstated firearm carry restrictions in Hawaii and California, maintaining certain limitations on carrying firearms in “sensitive places” while allowing carry in others. This ruling follows legal challenges to these states’ 2023 firearm regulations, which were initially blocked by district courts. The Ninth Circuit’s decision…

  • California, Hawaii Can Ban Guns in Bars and Parks, Appeals Court Rules

    A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that California and Hawaii can enforce bans on carrying guns in certain public locations, including bars and parks, partially reversing lower court decisions that blocked the restrictions. A unanimous panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that both states can implement gun bans in bars,…

  • Emboldened by Supreme Court, California Turns to Police in Homeless Crisis

    Palm Springs, historically known as a desert retreat for Los Angeles’ wealthy elite, has implemented several progressive initiatives to address homelessness. However, in July, the all-Democratic city council passed a controversial ban on sleeping on public property, expanding police authority to arrest the unhoused. This decision highlights how even liberal cities are growing impatient as…

  • California Finalizes Deal To Give Its Own Bar Exam

    The State Bar of California has finalized an $8.25 million deal with Kaplan Exam Services to produce the state’s bar exam for the next five years, the attorney licensing body announced on Tuesday. Starting in February, California will no longer use any test components developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and will…

  • Kamala Harris’ Impressive California Immigration Record Revealed Amid Republican Attacks

    As Republicans continue their criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris over immigration policies, her tenure as a public official in California provides a complex backdrop to the ongoing debate. Harris, who is facing GOP allegations of mishandling border issues, is using her record to defend her stance on immigration, showing Americans her history of both…

  • Students Fighting California Law School Closure Face Court Setback

    California’s Golden Gate University School of Law will not be forced to reopen this fall—at least not yet. On Tuesday, a state judge in San Francisco dismissed a lawsuit brought by Golden Gate students and alumni seeking to stop its impending closure and denied their request for an injunction to keep the school open for…