Standard of Review article

The July/August issue of LA Lawyer magazine has H&L's Melissa Whalen and Sarah Fiskin's Barristers Tips article Navigating Standards of Review as a Roadmap to Appellate Success

5th DCA credit card fee

Service Fee for Credit Card Transactions

Effective August 3, 2026, a 2.3% service fee will apply to all credit card transactions in the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

SCOTUS AP reporter Sherman retires

AP’s long-time Supreme Court reporter Mark Sherman reflects on front row seat to legal history -- Mark Sherman covered the Supreme Court for The Associated Press for 20 years during some of the most momentous decisions in history. He retired on Tuesday, the last day of the court term, and reflects on his experience. He has witnessed how by both happenstance and design the court has moved to the ideological right.

Cal Supreme Court video on 250

California Supreme Court Justices Mark America's 250th Anniversary

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, justices of the California Supreme Court reflect on the importance of justice and the rule of law as embodied in the United States and California constitutions.
"All California courts are committed to safeguarding the structure and the fundamental principles which form the basis for our government and the promise of this country," said Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.
The Declaration of Independence closes with the signers mutually pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to one another: "In the same type of spirit, the people of this state play an important role in the mutual pledge that we have as it affects the courts, whether it's through jury service, civic education, or other forms of civic engagement," Chief Justice Guerrero said. "And the courts for our part across our state stand ready to uphold our commitment to ensuring that everyone is treated with fairness and equality under the law."

Watch the 5-minute video to hear justices of the California Supreme Court share their reflections on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

AJEI Nov. conference registration now open / BASF View

“250 Years Later: The Courts Continue the Conversation; Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary with the Nation’s Appellate Judiciary.” Registration is now open for the 2026 Appellate Judges Education Institute Summit, which is taking place in Philadelphia (November 12-15).

Also in November: Bar Association of San Francisco is holding its bi-annual View from the Appellate Bench on November 5, 2026: six hours of appellate law specialization MCLE credit (including one hour of ethics) featuring justices from the 1st DCA and California Supreme Court justice Marvin Jenkins. There’s also a wine and cheese reception.

2d Dist. pro tem update

The following are currently sitting on assignment in the 2d District:

• Judge Melanie P. Ochoa of the Los Angeles County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Three through August 31, 2026
• Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow (Retired) of the San Francisco County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Three through July 24, 2026
• Judge Vicki Ashworth (Retired) of the El Dorado County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Three through August 14, 2026
• Judge Syda K. Cogliati of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Four through July 22, 2026
• Judge Sanjay Kumar (Retired) of the Los Angeles County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Five through August 19, 2026
• Judge Ronda J. McKaig of the Ventura County Superior Court will be sitting Pro Tem in Division Six through July 31, 2026

Also, 2/3's PJ Edmon and 2/4's Justice Collins have "left the building" (i.e., are now off the website of active justices on the website for former justices).

DJ's Top L&E Lawyers

Today's DJ has the annual Top Labor & Employment Lawyers 2026 insert and it includes a few appellate lawyers in that space, e.g., Glenn Danas, Norm Pine, Felix Shafir, and Scott Tillet.

J.Alito not retiring

NPR Mistakenly Reports Justice Alito Is Retiring from Supreme Court: ‘Published in Error’

The DJ has a special insert, America at 250, which has From obscurity to omnipotence, the evolution of the Supreme Court's long rise to power

The insert also has a series of pieces called Voices of the Judiciary, featuring appellate justices (sitting and retired): Dhanidina, Duarte, Jackson, Mesiwala, and O'Leary.

3d DCA pro tem update

In the 3d District, Associate Justice Rebecca A. Wiseman, retired, will be sitting in pro tempore beginning July 15, 2023, through August 14, 2026.

$COTUS royalites

Bloomberg Law has Supreme Court Justices Report $2.4 Million in Book Income

Four Supreme Court justices reported a combined income of roughly $2.4 million from recently authored books, further demonstrating how lucrative the publishing world is for members of the court. ....

Associate justices receive an annual salary of $306,600. The chief justice is paid a salary of $320,700.

Law360 has Justice Jackson Tops High Court Book Earnings In 2025

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made nearly $1.2 million in book royalties last year, bringing her total to $4.14 million and making her the most highly compensated author on the high court, according to financial disclosure forms released Monday.

No AI sanctions?

Law360 has Scientologists Want 'Ignored' Boies Schiller AI Errors Review

The Church of Scientology has asked the California Supreme Court to review an appellate order that didn't impose sanctions on Boies Schiller Flexner LLP for filing a brief containing artificial intelligence-generated citation errors in a harassment and retaliation suit pending against the church.

PACER fees increase

Law360 reports PACER Fees Will Rise To Fund Cyber Defense Upgrades

The federal judiciary announced Friday it will temporarily increase the fees for electronic access to court records to pay for a potential $800 million upgrade that will modernize and strengthen court records systems PACER and CM/ECF, an upgrade it previously said is needed to respond to escalating cyberattacks.

• Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the cost of accessing court records through PACER will increase from 10 cents to 12 cents per page. The price increase will last for five years. The announcement didn't say whether the current $3.00 cap to access a single document would also change.
• This is the first adjustment in PACER fees in nearly 15 years, it said. In 2012, the per-page fee was raised from 8 cents to 10 cents.
• fees will be waived for users who spend $40 or less per quarter, an increase from the current $30 waiver.

Bloomberg law has Courts Raise PACER Fees to Fund System Upgrades After Hacks

Law.com has Judiciary to Increase Pacer Fee to Fund Fast-Tracked System Upgrade

Pacer fees currently generate about $147 million a year in collections, while costs for the modernization project are estimated at $700 million to $800 million over a six-year period ending in fiscal year 2030, the judiciary said June 26.

4/3 research atty appointed to OCSC

Thomas Fay, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Fay has served as a Lead Appellate Attorney at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three since 2023, where he also served as a Senior Appellate Attorney from 2020 to 2023. He worked as an Associate at multiple firms including at Murtaugh Treglia Stern & Deily from 2014 to 2020 and at Ezer Williamson Law from 2013 to 2014. Fay received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Effective June 29, 2026, he will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Strickroth. Fay is a Democrat.

Can you spot the retired Justices in this video?

More Than 100 Retired California Judges Create “Wall of Justice” to Defend the Rule of Law & An Independent Judiciary -- Watch the video from the Retired Judges Initiative (RJI) to hear familiar voices remind all of us why "judicial independence is not a privilege — it is the foundation of justice itself."

The DJ has More than 100 retired California judges form 'wall of justice' to defend an independent judiciary -- More than 100 retired California judges have released a video tribute defending judicial independence, timed to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

RIP J. Marchiano (1943-2026)

The Honorable James J. Marchiano, passed away June 2. He spent 25 years on the bench - first on the Contra Costa Superior Court (1988–1998), then as Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District, Division One (1998–2013). Interview here.

RIP J.Irion (1953-2026)

Associate Justice Joan K. Irion of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Please visit the California Courts Newsroom for the full article.

The DJ has Justice Joan K. Irion, 1953 - 2026 -- Beyond her written opinions and courtroom work, Irion became one of California's most active judicial educators and ambassadors for civic engagement.

Justice 250 event in SD July 2 / Scotus speculation

As reported on At The Lectern, Justice 250 is a special event coming to the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum on Thursday, July 2, 2026, featuring Chief Justice Guerrero and Ninth Circuit Judge McKeown.

At the Lectern also has New courthouse named in honor of former Chief Justice

Bloomberg Law has Judges Jockey for Potential Trump Supreme Court Appointment

• Retirement speculation, which typically comes at the end of each Supreme Court term in June, has been focused on 77-year-old Justices Clarence Thomas and 76-year-old Samuel Alito. The men, considered the two most conservative justices, haven’t publicly announced their future plans.
• Solicitor General John Sauer and Judge Andrew Oldham of the Fifth Circuit have been discussed as potential candidates for the Supreme Court
• Judge James Ho on the Fifth Circuit has also been floated
• Other names include Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas on the DC Circuit, Judge Patrick Bumatay on the Ninth Circuit, Judge Steven Menashi on the Second Circuit, and Judge Amul Thapar on the Sixth Circuit.

Law.com has Kannon Shanmugam Talks Davis Polk Move, the Supreme Court’s Shrinking Docket and Appellate Strategy and Quinn Emanuel Promotes New York Partner to Appellate Practice Co-Leader

Bloomberg Law has Kirkland Taps Quinn Emanuel Partner to Steer Appeals Group

Judicial Council news

The DJ has Chief Justice Guerrero appoints eight new Judicial Council members -- Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero appointed four voting and four advisory Judicial Council members from courts, court administration and private practice, while reappointing six members and recognizing nine departing council members.

• Administrative Presiding Justice Mary J. Greenwood of the 6th District Court of Appeal and Alameda County Superior Court Executive Officer Chad Finke will begin their terms July 1. Greenwood joins as a voting member
• Greenwood oversees administration of the appellate court's district and previously served in leadership roles in Santa Clara County Superior Court's family division. Finke brings 25 years of judicial branch experience, including service at the Judicial Council and on statewide court budget and administration committees.
• The chief justice also reappointed six current council members effective Sept. 15, including California Supreme Court Justice Carol A. Corrigan and 1st District Court of Appeal Clerk/Executive Officer Charles Johnson
• Council members concluding their terms this year include Justice Joan K. Irion

SAJEC needs your input!

The LACBA State Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee (SAJEC) is evaluating four Los Angeles Superior Court judges for possible appointment to the Second District Court of Appeal: Elizabeth Bradley, Alexander Giza, Marisa Hernández-Stern, and Cindy Pánuco. If you have input on any of the candidates, please complete the relevant questionnaires linked below. Elaborations in the comments fields are especially helpful. To provide input beyond the questionnaire, contact committee chair Alana Rotter at arotter@gmsr.com. SAJEC appreciates your help!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HonElizabethBradley

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HonAlexanderGiza

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HonMarisaHernandezStern

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HonCindyPanuco

PACER passwords

Important PACER Announcement: Updated Password Standards

Beginning August 17, 2026, PACER users who have not updated their password in the last 18 months will be randomly selected to update their password to comply with the updated password standards. The new password must:

• Be 14-45 characters in length.
• Contain at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, and one special character.
• Not contain any part of your first name, last name, username, or email address.

Passwords will also have to be updated every 180 days.

See full announcement here.
Please consider updating your ECF password as soon as possible.
To change your password, login to Manage My Account. Under Settings, click Change Password.