Public Law

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 707 (Durazo) into law on October 3, 2025. SB 707 makes extensive updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.), the primary open meeting law governing local agency legislative bodies. The legislation both restores and restructures various provisions set to expire in 2026, makes permanent certain transparency-related reforms, and establishes new requirements to enlarge public access and participation in local government proceedings. The Brown Act generally requires all meetings… Read more

The Public Law Section of the California Lawyers Association is honored to select Ryan McGinley-Stempel as the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Public Law (OAPL) Award.  This prestigious award recognizes attorneys who have made significant contributions to the field of public law through exceptional legal work, integrity, and dedication to public service.   Read more

The Public Law Section of the California Lawyers Association is honored to announce that Phillip A. Talbert has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year Award. Read more

On February 28, 2025, in Santa Ana Police Officers Association, et al, v. City of Santa Ana, the California Court of Appeal’s Fourth District ruled on a challenge by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (“SAPOA”) and several of its officers who filed anonymously. The Court was asked to review the Superior Court’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by the SAPOA and the officers alleging that the Santa Ana Police Department Read more

The Inaugural Public Law Conference is slated for March 19-20, 2025 in San Diego. This conference brings together essential training, timely issues, and practical insights that matter to those working across all levels of government. Read more

For most of American history it was conservatives who championed states’ rights, but now it is the Trump administration that is trying to trample the authority of state and local governments in clear violation of the Constitution.  Just a day after the inauguration, Read more

Earlier this year, our annual Public Law Section (PLS) member survey overwhelmingly revealed that members want more Section communications in electronic form versus paper.  In response, the PLS Executive Committee is moving select versions of the Public Law Journal to an electronic format.  Read more

The Public Law 101 Conference is a two-day introductory program designed for early-career attorneys, law clerks, and legal professionals interested in the field of public agency law. Read more

On Wednesday, February 26, the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law’s Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) hosted a Careers in Public Law panel, offering students valuable insights into the dynamic field of public law. The event featured legal professionals who shared their experiences and provided career guidance for students interested in serving the public sector. Read more

The Southern California wildfires in January, 2025 have (as of this writing on January 17, 2025) destroyed or damaged many hundreds of cell sites, primarily in the public rights of way, as well as  “distributed antenna system” (DAS) wireless sies.  Read more