Outside civil-rights groups asked the court to fast-track their request for leave to file an amicus brief in support of Attorney General Rob Bonta’s challenge to the voter-approved election reforms. Real Parties in Interest—the local citizens behind Measure B—opposed the shortcut, insisting they deserved normal notice and a chance to respond in writing. Judge Hanna agreed. He denied the ex parte application, kept the motion on the regular calendar for Monday, August 10, and r

Redding, CA — A Shasta County Superior Court ruling delivered a clear message on May 18, 2026: citizens who successfully defend the integrity of the election process are entitled to basic protections under the law — just like everyone else. In Katske v. Shasta County Board of Supervisors, et al. (Case No. 26CV-0209919), Judge Benjamin Hanna upheld his tentative ruling, ordering Petitioner Jennifer Katske to pay $3,084.25 in court costs to the five citizen intervenors who step

California's "jungle primary," formally the top-two system, was marketed as a reform to curb partisanship, empower moderates, and boost voter turnout. Adopted via Proposition 14 in 2010, it allows all candidates to compete on a single primary ballot, with the top two advancing to the general election regardless of party.