Justice

We covered how Californians were affected by the workings — or non-workings — of their state government. Here are highlights:

After Sacramento police shot and killed Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was in his grandparents’ backyard, activists set out to change California law. They wanted to make it harder to legally justify police shootings. That sparked a heated debate in the state Capitol between the powerful police lobby and families whose loved ones […]

People with former felony convictions can vote in California, but they can't serve on juries. A new law is going to change that.  

The modern American gun debate began in 1967 in California's Capitol. In the years since, California has enacted more gun control laws than any other state.

Seattle police have cut their use of moderate and lethal force 60%. But controversial police shootings still happen, and no officer has been prosecuted since the change took effect.

California lawmakers knew Assemblyman David Chiu's reproductive FACT Act had constitutional issues, but passed the NARAL-sponsored bill anyway. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned it, and the settlements in NIFLA v. Becerra have been a windfall for conservatives fighting reproductive rights here and nationally. 

As California debated a new law limiting when police can use deadly force, advocates pointed to Seattle as a place that's benefited from a similar policy.

As California debated a new law limiting when police can use deadly force, advocates pointed to Seattle as an example of a place that’s benefited from a similar policy. The Seattle Police Department has made a lot of changes in recent years, and its use of force is way down. The Force of Law season finale […]

California has some of the nation’s strongest gun control laws. But local police in California increasingly are turning to federal authorities for help prosecuting gun crimes. The reason: Felons in possession of firearms will serve far longer sentences under federal law.

Now that California has passed new laws meant to reduce police shootings, a key question is how much difference they’ll make in the ways officers respond to calls to help people in mental crisis. We discuss that question with Gov. Gavin Newsom, and examine two shootings from the past—one that the new law would likely […]