Litigation

Cal Supremes -- The Most Followed Court

By Bruce Nye

The new -- and excellent -- "At The Lectern," Horvitz & Levy's new blog on Supreme Court practice, provides a reminder on why the California Supreme Court is so important.  From 1940 to 2005:

1,260 of the California Supreme Court?s decisions have been followed at least once by another state?s supreme court.  The Washington Supreme Court was next, with 942 followed decisions.  The median for all fifty state high courts was 453.

Furthermore,

60 of the Court?s decisions were followed three or more times by other states? high courts.  Washington was again second, but with just 72 decisions cited three or more times.

One of Cal Biz Lit's themes has always been that the law in California isn't necessarily worse, isn't necessarily better, but sure as shootin' is different, and out-of-staters ignore those differences at their peril.  The study Horvitz & Levy cites makes another point:  if you non-Californians think we're a little goofy here, just wait:  your time is coming.

Horvitz and Levy's other blog, the appropriately named "California Punitive Damages, An Exemplary Blog" has long been the best comprehensive on-line source on its subject.  CBL is now pleased to add the firm's most recent effort to our (somewhat smugly named) "Cal Biz Lit's Approved Blogs."

My only quibble with the two sites:  Folks, how about some pictures?  I'll get you started with a lectern.

Full post as published by CalBizLit on September 02, 2010 (boomark / email).