Don't sign blind: How Campos redefines judicial responsibility

Bernard C. Barmann Jr. of the Metro Justice Building contends that In re Domestic Partnership of Torres Campos and Munoz extends citation verification obligations directly to the bench. With nearly 1,000 U.S. hallucination incidents logged as of May 2026, judges who sign proposed orders containing unverified authorities now face institutional, reputational, and appellate risk.

Church v. State: A takings conundrum

Michael M. Berger of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips examines the federal government's effort to condemn a 1.3-mile border wall gap owned by the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, setting up a rare First and Fifth Amendment collision. Under Wilson versus Block, the Diocese must first establish that the proposed wall would impair pilgrim access to the Mount Cristo Rey shrine before the government must justify its interest as compelling and least restrictive.

When the benefits end: Workers' comp timelines vs. human recovery

Yosi Yahoudai and Melissa Jamero Herbito of J&Y Law argue that California's workers' compensation system closes cases on statutory timelines that routinely diverge from actual recovery. Labor Code section 4660.1(c) leaves cognitive and psychiatric impairments least reflected in permanent disability ratings — and third-party liability exposure is often the only path to fuller recovery.

"I attended a law, AI and child safety conference. What I heard was shocking"

Zachary N. Zaharoff of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy reports that a Media Law Resource Center conference on child safety online was dominated by corporate liability strategy, not child welfare. Platform attorneys should expect Section 230 and First Amendment defenses to remain the industry's primary shield as these cases advance.

"Bad AI citations: Crimes and punishments"

Myron Moskovitz of the Moskovitz Appellate Team examines a California appellate case where fabricated citations ensnared both an attorney and judicial officers in the same proceeding. The attorney faced sanctions and a State Bar referral; the judicial officers did not. Citation verification now runs to the bench — and sanctions exposure remains uneven.

"Protect access to justice and be munificent"

Arash Homampour and Nicholas Rowley of Trial Lawyers for Justice argue that Uber's proposed California constitutional amendment would cap plaintiff-side contingency fees in motor vehicle and products liability cases while leaving defense arrangements untouched. The Legislative Analyst's Office projects reduced filings and higher Medi-Cal costs.

Read all three columns and browse the full Perspectives section at dailyjournal.com.

"Courts Ordered to Police AI Without a Budget" William Slomanson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

In re Domestic Partnership of Campos and Munoz put the problem in sharp relief: California's 4th District reversed a court order built on hallucinated AI citations. Standard 10.80b3 now requires judicial officers to verify AI-generated material — but no funding or staffing has followed. SB 574 extends parallel restrictions to arbitrators. For attorneys relying on AI-assisted research, the verification obligation now runs both ways.

"The Going and Coming Rule When an Employee Has a Hybrid Work Schedule" Michael E. Rubinstein, Law Office of Michael E. Rubinstein

Chang v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group confirms that a hybrid schedule doesn't suspend the going-and-coming rule. A standing calendar entry and pre-collision texts with coworkers weren't enough to bring a physician's personal errand within course and scope of employment. Chang is reliable precedent for employers' counsel — if the evidentiary record is locked down early.

"LA's Perfect Storm of Deferred Maintenance, Crumbling Infrastructure and Stolen Copper Wire" Jason Javaheri, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, J&Y Law; Parham Nikfarjam, Senior Trial Attorney, J&Y Law

Los Angeles is simultaneously funding Willits settlement repairs and absorbing claims tied to conditions those repairs haven't reached. Copper theft now drives 40% of streetlight outages, some lasting more than a year. For attorneys litigating against the city, the structural conditions generating claims aren't resolving — they're accumulating.

Read all three columns and browse the full Perspectives section at dailyjournal.com.