San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Katherine Feinstein has announced that she is retiring from the bench.
Feinstein, 55, the daughter of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, has served as a judge with the court for more than 12 years, and for the past two she has served as presiding judge. Her retirement is effective Feb. 1, court officials said. Read More
Before he was elected as San Francisco’s district attorney, George Gascón promised to resolve all the homicide cases that had languished in the courts for years, prolonging the horror for victims’ loved ones.
When he made the pledge, 14 murder cases remained unresolved even though the defendants had been arraigned at least four years earlier. Three more cases subsequently reached that unsavory milestone. Read More
Court proceedings were thrown into disarray Monday when workers upset about pay cuts walked off the job in a one-day strike.
Only a handful of courtrooms were open to conduct criminal matters at the Hall of Justice as court clerks and other employees represented by Service Employees Union Local 1021 rallied outside. Strikes were also in effect at the civil and juvenile courthouses, totaling more than 200 workers. Read More
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Jerome Benson announced Tuesday he will retire on Jan. 20 after 22 years on the bench.
Benson, 72, a former prosecutor, spent much of his judicial career presiding over criminal trials. Read More
A dozen Peninsula school districts will appeal a judge’s decision to dismiss their lawsuit against San Mateo County’s former treasurer, whom they say was responsible for the loss of $20 million in school district funds that the county invested in Lehman Brothers. Read More
The attorney for a San Francisco man accused of attacking his brother with a power drill two weeks after a homophobic assault on his neighbor said Wednesday her client is not a gay basher and might need a head doctor. Read More
An alleged sibling feud involving a power drill could have been prevented if the suspect’s bail had not been reduced in an unrelated case, according to San Francisco prosecutors who are fuming over the case. Read More
San Franciscans will see a leaner Superior Court starting today, with fewer courtrooms open and staff available and reduced services for those without attorneys.
The court’s $6.2 million budget deficit forced the closure of 10 civil courtrooms, nearly 70 layoffs and reductions to the two self-help centers. More-drastic cuts were avoided thanks to a $2.5 million emergency loan approved a month ago by the state Administrative Office of the Courts. Read More
An elementary school teacher who won a $60,000 settlement from the San Francisco Unified School District in 2006 after suing for employment discrimination took the district to federal court last week, alleging that school officials are retaliating for the lawsuit. Read More
After a contentious meeting, the California Judicial Council on Friday unanimously approved a loan of $2.5 million in emergency funding for San Francisco Superior Court.
Together with a previously approved grant of $646,000 for the San Francisco court's two complex litigation departments, the funding will enable the court to reduce drastic cuts announced in July and keep 11 more courtrooms open. Read More
