News & Announcements

As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the practice of law becomes more frequent, attorneys have questions about how this can ethically be done.  To help answer some of these questions, the California State Bar Committee on Professional Responsibility & Conduct has created guidelines to help navigate ethical issues.

“Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law”

The Los Angeles Superior Court has created a new process to serve appellate briefs (criminal & delinquency) on the judicial officers via email.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County will establish a new uniform process for parties to electronically serve appellate briefs on the trial court clerk for the purpose of delivery to the trial court judicial officer.

Attorneys representing parties will email a copy of their appellate brief to the Court’s new designated resource account, Appellatebriefs@lacourt.org.  Additional details about the new service method can be found in the public notice below.

LASC Public Notice – Submitting Appellate Briefs via Email

(*Dependency E-Service addresses have not changed.)

We’re pleased to share that the California state budget includes a $10/hour raise for panel attorneys. This important step reflects the value of your work and the strength of our advocacy. A heartfelt thank you to all who helped make this possible — from those who shared their voices to those who worked behind the scenes. Your support made a difference.

For Court of Appeal cases appointed on or after July 1, 2025, the following rates will apply:

• Assisted cases rate: $120/hour
• Independent cases rate: $130/hour
• Upper tier rate: $140/hour

Thank you for your continued dedication.

Effective May 15, 2025, the public can access recordings of oral arguments held in Los Angeles divisions, which should be available no later then 24 hours after their conclusion.  Division Six is expected to implement archiving capabilities later this year.  Archived webcasts will be available on the same webpage where live oral arguments are currently streamed.

Link to Archived Oral Arguments  (Scroll to bottom of webpage)

Reminder About Recording Restrictions
The Court reminds viewers that the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings remains in effect. Media representatives must request an order from the court before recording any portion of oral argument proceedings by submitting Form MC-500 at least five court days before the proceeding, unless good cause is shown.

CAPSF is a nonprofit corporation serving as a legal resource center for the court appointed counsel who represent indigent persons facing execution in California. They serve the largest population of condemned individuals in the country. CAPSF is funded primarily by a contract with the Judicial Council of California.

CAPSF is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to oversee our operations, guide our strategic direction, and inspire our team. The ideal candidate will provide visionary leadership and oversight of all aspects of CAPSF including personnel, finances, programs, facilities, and strategic growth and will build strong relationships with key stakeholders like the courts, legal community, and policymakers. More details about CAPSF and the job opening can be found on the CAPSF website. Inquires about the position may be sent to hiring@capsf.org.

Job Announcement & Information

We are pleased to announce Jennifer Peabody as the new Executive Director of CAP-LA. This decision follows CAP-LA Board’s due diligence investigation of all possibilities, and we are confident that Jennifer’s leadership will guide us toward continued success and growth.

Jennifer has been a vital part of our organization as a staff attorney since November 2020, and panel attorney for 20 years prior to that, contributing to our achievements with her exceptional strategic insight and commitment to our mission. Her deep understanding of our goals and values, combined with her proven ability to lead, make her the ideal person to lead us into the future.

We are excited about the direction Jennifer will take CAP-LA and look forward to the continued impact we will make together.

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer on this well-deserved promotion!

Thank you for your ongoing support as we embark on this exciting new chapter.

As part of the ongoing transition to electronic filing, the L.A. Superior Court has implemented a new case number matrix.  Attached is a sheet with the new case prefixes, an explanation of how the new prefixes will work and a copy of the previous case numbering matrixes.

LASC Case Numbering Matrix 2025

Please note the following temporary updates to MCLE compliance deadlines:

• Compliance Group 1 (Last names A-G): New reporting deadline: March 30, 2025.  **While the reporting deadline is March 30, all MCLE education and credits must be completed by March 29, 2025.
• Compliance Groups 2 and 3: compliance extended to March 29, 2026, or 2027.  Reporting deadline: March 30, 2026 or 2027.  **All MCLE education and credits must be completed by March 29, 2026 or 2027.

Late Reporting Fees: Compliance reported after March 30, 2025, will be considered late, and a late fee will apply.

For further information please review the State Bar MCLE webpages.

If, during your review of an appellate record,  you discover your client has a qualifying Penal Code section 667.5, subdivision (b) enhancement that was imposed or stayed, but the client is not on the CDCR list of potentially eligible defendants that was sent to the superior courts, you can now email the CDCR directly to request they be added to the list.

Email your request and any supporting documentation to the CDCR at cdcr-dai-sb483inquiry@cdcr.ca.gov.

Recently, CAPLA received notification of the schedule for this transition.  This is a very big move for the Judicial Branch!  Starting next week, the JCC will begin the transition to ADP for claims payments.  The attached memo explains what we know about the transition at this point, how it is expected to proceed and the expected benefit of switching to ADP.  Please check back for further updates next week.

Claim Payments – Transition from Controller to ADP

Please check with us to see if we already have an electronic copy. If we do have an electronic copy, you do not need to send the paper copy in for review.

SB 483 UPDATE TO CDCR Website explaining when and how the superior courts were notified of eligible defendants. In response to confusion amongst the superior courts as to how notifications would be sent, the CDCR has clarified this process, which could be helpful to cases on appeal. Learn more here: Senate Bill 483 – Family & Friends Services (ca.gov)

As follows: “The Clerk’s Transcript shall include all documentary exhibits admitted in evidence, refused, or lodged in the case in the superior court, including copies of any demonstrative exhibits that were shown to the trier of fact if those copies were lodged in the superior court. The demonstrative exhibits to be included in the clerk’s transcript shall include copies of computer slide presentations (such as PowerPoint presentations) that were shown to the trier of fact, whether or not the presentations were marked as exhibits if copies were lodged in the superior court. Each admitted exhibit shall be clearly identified and sequentially numbered.”

The court is switching to a new case management system. Under the new system, case “dockets” are no longer available. Instead, public terminals are to be available for use to view and determine which minutes you need. It is not yet clear whether printers will be available for the public or whether, once the dates needed are determined, the clerk will print any needed minute orders. CAP will update as new information is received.

The California Supreme Court clarified procedures for appellate review of Penal Code section 1172.6 resentencing appeals where counsel files a no-issues brief. See People v. Delgadillo (2022) 14 Cal.5th 216. The decision is now final and the Second District has declared its preference for Delgadillo briefs instead of Serrano briefs in other no-issues cases. See sample Delgadillo briefs. As always, please contact CAP before filing any no issue brief.

The address for requests for record completion in criminal cases in LA County has changed. Please continue to the “Criminal” page for details.