China’s highest court eyes judicial reform, while a lawyer criticizes TV confessions

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2016

Mr. Zhu has criticized the common practice of using televised confessions, which are used “to humiliate human rights advocates, lawyers” and others as part of the current crackdown launched by President Xi Jinping. Dozens of televised confessions have recently been broadcast before court proceedings by persons detained for stirring up trouble, corruption and endangering state secrets.

Sepulveda tunnel, faster subway work possible with Metro’s $120 billion measure

Ethan Elkind interviewed by KPCC-FM, March 11, 2016

Agencies around the country have turned more and more to sales tax measures to fund projects as federal and state sources for transit construction have dried up. “It’s definitely not the best way to run the rodeo,” said Elkind. “The problem is there aren’t a lot of great sources of funding out there, so this self-help approach is really the best.”

State high court to broadcast oral arguments

Paul Fogel quoted in Daily Journal (registration required), March 10, 2016

Paul D. Fogel, a partner at Reed Smith LLP, said archived videos will give him more source material to teach his “Appellate Advocacy” course at UC Berkeley School of Law. … “It’ll give me lots to choose from for teaching purposes, Fogel said. It’ll be a good civics lesson for high school students.”

Berkeley report tallies costs of justice system errors

Rebecca Silbert quoted in Daily Journal (registration required), March 9, 2016

Silbert said she found some information startling, especially “the sheer number of days in prison that we counted—over 2,000 years. The degree to which we were paying for unsustainable convictions was surprising.”

City Visions: Making the case for a second transbay rail crossing

Ethan Elkind hosts KALW-FM, March 7, 2016

“With the Bay Area’s population growing at a rapid pace and increasing numbers of residents choosing public transportation, how long before the current transportation infrastructure reaches a breaking point? … Is the time ripe for such a significant undertaking?