Constitutional – Case Law Wire

California Administrative Law Constitutional

2nd District Court of Appeal, Division One

Fix the City v. City of Los Angeles — Mayor Bass’s Local Housing/Homelessness Emergency Declaration Was Authorized by City Code and Not Preempted by State Emergency Services Act

/ February 27, 2026

Second District affirms denial of a writ challenge to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s 2023 housing-and-homelessness emergency declaration, holding section 8.33 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code is not preempted by the California Emergency Services Act.

California Constitutional Criminal

2nd District Court of Appeal, Division One

Uncategorized

In re Lynex — Racial Justice Act Petitioner Entitled to Counsel on a ‘Plausible Allegation’ Standard, Not a Prima Facie Showing

/ February 19, 2026

Second District grants writ of mandate, holding that an indigent petitioner under California’s Racial Justice Act must show only a ‘plausible allegation’ of a violation to obtain counsel — not a prima facie showing of entitlement to relief — and may amend his petition to meet that

California Constitutional Criminal

2nd District Court of Appeal, Division One

Uncategorized

People v. Heaps — UCLA Gynecologist’s Convictions Reversed Where Trial Court’s Ex Parte Communications With Jury Deprived Defendant of Counsel

/ February 2, 2026

Second District reverses convictions of former UCLA gynecologic oncologist James Heaps, holding the trial court’s ex parte communications with the jury through a judicial assistant — without notifying counsel — deprived defendant of counsel at a critical stage and the prosecution failed to pro