California Racial Justice Act
@californiarja.bsky.social
This account is dedicated to advancing awareness, understanding, and application of the California Racial Justice Act by tracking how courts across the state interpret and apply this transformative law. Stay Updated: https://californiarja.wordpress.com/
Worth amplifying. Also consider whether a focus only on "crime" as a measure of social health is useful. (My opinion: better to look at pro-social indicators like housing and other basic needs. The Good Lives Model provides a nice framework for this.) www.yahoo.com/news/politic...
California's Prison Reform Experiment Worked. The State's Crime Rate Has Fallen by 27% in 15 Years.
Facts don't care about the GOP's "crime wave" feelings.
yahoo.com
Special circumstances charges found to violate the RJA. The DA dismissed and refiled--with special circumstances. A case to watch in Yolo County. davisvanguard.org/2026/07/yolo...
Defense Seeks to Prevent DA from Refiling Special Circumstance after RJA Violation - Davis Vanguard
The defense in a Yolo County murder prosecution has moved to permanently bar prosecutors from reasserting a special-circumstance allegation, which a judge previously determined violated California's R...
davisvanguard.org
Excellent summary of the California Supreme Court cases on the RJA. Highly recommend.
California’s Racial Justice Act Goes to Court
The California Supreme Court overturned a death sentence but diluted the law’s protections, two justices said.
statecourtreport.org
"A third-striker sentenced to 79 years to life ... has been granted a new trial because an Anaheim police detective showed racial bias on the witness stand... ruling that the detective’s testimony — that “pimps are generally Black” — violated the state’s Racial Justice Act."
OC judge throws out human trafficking conviction of third-striker because of racial bias
A police detective’s testimony that “pimps are generally Black” was unnecessary and a violation of California’s Racial Justice Act, the jurist ruled.
ocregister.com
I've got some thoughts about the California Supreme Court's recent rulings on the Racial Justice Act (RJA). First up, I discuss People v. Bankston (first of four CA Supreme Court cases) californiarja.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/p...
People v. Bankston (first of four CA Supreme Court cases)
I’m going to try to blog about each of the four cases that were published on 6/1 (Bankston, Chhuon, Barrera, and Demolle) over the next couple of weeks. I’m going to start with Bankston…
californiarja.wordpress.com
The RJA is itself clear on not comparing defendants to animals. But the CA Supreme Court has judicially constructed it otherwise. Lots to unpack today.
Daily Journal@dailyjournalcorp.bsky.social · 4mo agoDid animal imagery in a prosecutor’s argument violate the California Racial Justice Act? The California Supreme Court in People v. Demolle found calling a defendant a “predator” and “wolf in sheep’s clothing” did not violate the RJA. Subscription only: https://ow.ly/JO3n50Z6ru4
Just a terrible idea, and the antithesis of justice: "... a judge inside the Los Angeles Superior Court .... told CalMatters that colleagues at a recent luncheon had discussed using [AI program] Learned Hand to help evaluate petitions filed under California's Racial Justice Act."
AI in California Courts Drafts Orders in Secret: Litigants Get No Disclosure
AI in California courts is drafting judicial orders without telling litigants. A CalMatters investigation reveals LA County signed a $314,000 contract with Learned Hand to assist judges — with a roadm...
techtimes.com
Discovery granted in Fresno County. "Judge Alvin M. Harrell III sided with attorneys for Douglas “Chief” Ray Stankewitz when he found the defense met its burden ... which may include demographic information on cases in which the Fresno County DA charged defendants with murder going back to 1972."
Judge cites ‘Squaw Valley’ as evidence in Native man’s Fresno racial justice case
The judge acknowledged a legacy of racism in a legal win for Douglas Stankewitz, who was first convicted in 1978 of murder.
fresnobee.com
New Post: Causal Inference from Racial Disparity in Statistical Data
Explaining What Racial Disparity Means in the Context of Statistical Data: “Modeling Meaning: Causal Inference Under the California Racial Justice Act” by W. David Ball
In Modeling Meaning, W. David Ball discusses the choices involved in interpreting statistical data and the implications this has under the California Racial Justice Act (“RJA”). Since statistical d…
californiarja.wordpress.com
Admissibility of Rap Lyrics and RJA Claims of Racial Bias People v. Taylor offers one of the most detailed appellate discussions to date on how trial courts should handle the intersection of racially coded evidence—specifically rap lyrics—and RJA claims alleging racial bias in criminal proceedings.
📄 People v. Taylor (2025) — Admissibility of Rap Lyrics and RJA Claims of Racial Bias
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B327033 Filed: November 13, 2025 (unpublished) Disposition: Convictions partly reversed (counts reduced), RJA claim reje…
californiarja.wordpress.com
🔎Bottom line from People v. Guerrero & Navarro (2025): The RJA won’t rescue claims that are: • Procedurally unpreserved • Factually underdeveloped • Untethered to race-based causation Preserve. Document. Substantiate. Deep dive now live on the CA RJA Resource Hub ⬇️ #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
📚 Guerrero & Navarro joins Lashon, Singh, Quintero & Wagstaff: ➡️ RJA claims not raised at trial are forfeited. ➡️ Allegations of bias require concrete proof — not inference. See how the court applied §745(a)(1)-(2) in undercover contexts. Full write-up → CA RJA Resource Hub #PC745 #RJA #CrimLaw
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
🧠 RJA Lesson: The statute is only as strong as the record you build. In Guerrero & Navarro, the defense lost because: ❌ No trial-level RJA objection ❌ No evidence of racial animus or disparity ❌ Theory untethered to §745 standards Strategic takeaways on the CA RJA Resource Hub ⬇️ #CaliforniaRJA
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
⚖️ New on the CA RJA Resource Hub: People v. Guerrero & Navarro (Unpub. 2025) clarifies: • RJA forfeiture remains a hard bar on appeal • “Same-race” undercover tactics alone don’t show bias • Racialized slang must show animus or discriminatory impact A must-read for trial lawyers below 👇 #RJA
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
📌 RJA Practice Tip from People v. Guerrero & Navarro (2025): Even post-AB 256, courts still strictly enforce: ✅ Timely RJA objections ✅ Factual record tying bias to race ❌ Novel theories without evidentiary support Preserve early. Build the record. Full case analysis → CA RJA Resource Hub #RJA
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
Undercover Ops + RJA 🕵️♂️Can undercover tactics violate the RJA? Guerrero & Navarro holds: • Using Hispanic undercover officers ≠ racial bias (without proof) • Casual gang slang (“n-word”) alone ≠ §745 violation • Unpreserved RJA claims = forfeiture Context + litigation lessons on the CA RJA Hub👇
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
🚨 New RJA Case Drop: People v. Guerrero & Navarro (2d Dist. 2025) Court rejects RJA claim as: ❌ Forfeited (not raised at trial) ❌ Substantively unsupported Key takeaway: If you don’t preserve the RJA objection on the record, you likely lose it on appeal. Full breakdown + practice tips ⬇️ #CARJA
📄 People v. Guerrero & Navarro
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B337444 Opinion Date: November 26, 2025 Status: Unpublished (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 8.1115) RJA Relevance: Procedural…
californiarja.wordpress.com
🧰 Practice takeaway: The Stanford–NAACP filings show how data-driven RJA petitions can expose sentencing disparities across counties. 📈 Use jurisdictional data. 📑 Anchor claims to § 745(b). Read more below ⬇️ Stay informed on all RJA developments with the CA RJA Resource Hub (link in bio) #RJA
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
“The goal of the Racial Justice Act is to root out racism in all its forms — including systemic racism.” – Prof. Jody Armour, USC 18 new filings may finally push California courts to apply that promise to sentencing Read below ⬇️ and stay updated at the CA RJA Resource Hub (link in bio) #RJA #PC745
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
People v. Phillips Key takeaways for practitioners: ✅ No appealability for post-judgment RJA discovery ✅ Strict jurisdictional enforcement (Montgomery / Serrano) ✅ Good cause under §745(d) still requires race + case-specific linkage ✅ AB 1071 will shift discovery timing — but not appeal rights
📄 People v. Phillips
Court: California Court of Appeals, Sixth District Case Nos.: H052212 & H052225 Filed: November 26, 2025 Citation: 2025 WL 3295821 (Unpublished) Relevant RJA Sections: Penal Code §§ 745(a), (d)…
californiarja.wordpress.com
One petitioner, John Crawford, is serving 45 years to life for attempted second-degree robbery. His RJA filing argues Black defendants in L.A. County face sentences 36% longer than similarly charged white defendants. Read more ⬇️ #RJA #SentencingDisparities #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #PC745
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
💡 Five years after the #RacialJusticeAct was passed, not one California judge has yet found disparate sentencing under PC 745(a)(4). Now 18 new petitions aim to test the statute’s reach — and its promise to correct systemic bias. Read more below ⬇️ #CARJA #CAcourts #JusticeReform #PC745 #RIA
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
⚖️ Attorneys from Stanford Law’s Three Strikes Project & @NAACP_LDF filed 18 RJA petitions alleging racial disparities in CA sentencing. In L.A. County, Black defendants are 13x more likely than white defendants to receive life sentences for attempted robbery. Full story ⬇️ #RJA #CARJA #EqualJustice
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
18 California inmates seek resentencing under the Racial Justice Act For the first time, petitions filed across 5 counties allege gross racial disparities in sentencing under Three Strikes. No CA judge has yet granted relief under the RJA sentencing provisions — this filing could change that. #RJA
18 prisoners seek reduced sentences under California's rarely used Racial Justice Act
Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Stanford Law School filed 18 petitions seeking to reduce the prison terms of people in five counties — including Los Angeles and Riverside — citing “gro...
latimes.com
🔎☝️Systemic Perspective “The race-blind charging study showed no difference,” says the DA. Yet the ACLU’s data reveal deep disparities in who faces felony charges. The fight over access to records will shape how California enforces its #RacialJusticeAct. Full story below ⬇️ #CARJA #CAcourts #PC745
ACLU Accuses Santa Clara County DA of Withholding Records on Racial Bias - Davis Vanguard
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit against Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, accusing his office of withholding records that could reveal racial disparities in felony c...
davisvanguard.org
🧾 The ACLU suit frames data transparency as essential to enforcing Penal Code § 745. ‼️ By denying disclosure, the complaint argues, the DA “weakens the public’s ability to monitor prosecutorial practices.” ⬇️ Full story below ⬇️ #CARJA #RJA #PublicRecords #PC745 #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #AB256
ACLU Accuses Santa Clara County DA of Withholding Records on Racial Bias - Davis Vanguard
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit against Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, accusing his office of withholding records that could reveal racial disparities in felony c...
davisvanguard.org
Prosecutorial Discretion ⚖️ Who decides what counts as “fair”? The ACLU says Santa Clara DA’s secrecy blocks public oversight of racial bias in charging. The DA counters: disparities stem from systemic inequities, not prosecution. #RJA #CAjustice #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct Full analysis below ⬇️
ACLU Accuses Santa Clara County DA of Withholding Records on Racial Bias - Davis Vanguard
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit against Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, accusing his office of withholding records that could reveal racial disparities in felony c...
davisvanguard.org
‼️Data Disparities 📊According to the ACLU complaint: • Latino residents = 25 % of county pop. → 53 % of felony prosecutions • Black residents = 2 % → 13 % of felony prosecutions ⚖️The lawsuit seeks full disclosure to assess whether these gaps violate the #RJA. Full details below ⬇️ #CARJA #Equity
ACLU Accuses Santa Clara County DA of Withholding Records on Racial Bias - Davis Vanguard
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit against Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, accusing his office of withholding records that could reveal racial disparities in felony c...
davisvanguard.org
🕵️♀️ The #ACLU lawsuit against Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen tests a core principle of the #RacialJusticeAct: public access to prosecutorial data. Without transparency, “the law is just words on paper.” – Abdi Soltani Read more linked below ⬇️ #CARJA #OpenData #CAcourts #PC745 #AB256 #Transparency #Equity
ACLU Accuses Santa Clara County DA of Withholding Records on Racial Bias - Davis Vanguard
The ACLU of Northern California has filed a lawsuit against Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, accusing his office of withholding records that could reveal racial disparities in felony c...
davisvanguard.org
People v. Taylor offers one of the most detailed appellate discussions to date on how trial courts should handle the intersection of racially coded evidence—specifically 🎤 rap lyrics—and RJA claims alleging racial bias in criminal proceedings. 🤓 Read all about this case at the CA RJA Resource Hub!
📄 People v. Taylor (2025) — Admissibility of Rap Lyrics and RJA Claims of Racial Bias
Court: California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five Case No.: B327033 Filed: November 13, 2025 (unpublished) Disposition: Convictions partly reversed (counts reduced), RJA claim reje…
californiarja.wordpress.com