The California Supreme Court has completed a year marked by stability and a focus on its judicial responsibilities. Under the leadership of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, who assumed her role during the previous court year, the court addressed significant legal issues including those related to voter initiatives, COVID-19 implications, environmental law, and equal protection.
During the 2023–2024 term, the court issued 58 majority opinions and handled over 5,000 filings. This included resolving more than 3,000 petitions for review. "I am proud of the work of the court," stated Chief Justice Guerrero. She expressed gratitude to her colleagues and staff for their commitment to justice.
The court resumed in-person oral arguments in Los Angeles after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The tradition dates back to 1878 and is one of three recurring locations for oral arguments along with Sacramento and San Francisco. Special sessions have also resumed across California, with an upcoming session scheduled in Fresno.
Significant steps were taken to strengthen protections against conflicts of interest within the State Bar Board of Trustees and State Bar Court. Amendments were made to rules ensuring candidates are screened for potential conflicts.
The passing of former Associate Justice Edward A. Panelli was noted by the court; he served from 1985 until 1994 and will be honored at a future session.
Several high-profile cases were decided during this period:
- In Castellanos v. State of California, Proposition 22's classification of app-based drivers as independent contractors was upheld.
- Legislature v. Weber ruled that certain fiscal propositions require constitutional revision procedures rather than citizen initiatives.
- Another Planet Entertainment v. Vigilant Insurance Co. determined that COVID-19 presence did not qualify as physical property damage under insurance claims.
- People v. Hardin concluded that denying parole hearings to young adults convicted of special circumstance murder does not violate equal protection rights.
- In re Dezi C., concerning juvenile dependency matters under the Indian Child Welfare Act, led to conditional reversals when inquiries were inadequate.
- Make UC a Good Neighbor v. The Regents dealt with noise impact assessments under environmental laws related to housing projects at UC Berkeley.
The summary statistics indicate extensive activity with numerous civil and criminal cases processed alongside death penalty appeals and state bar matters.