The Daily Journal interviewed Manatt’ Ben Shatz, co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice, for a segment on the California high court ruling in Maas v. Superior Court, which, by clarifying a section of the Code of Civil Procedure, ensures a habeas corpus petitioner the right to peremptorily disqualify an assigned judge should the petitioner believe the judge to be prejudiced as to the matter.
Shatz discusses how this impacts not only habeas corpus jurisprudence, but also appellate attorneys more generally, who should be mindful of the power reserved by the California Supreme Court to grant sua sponte review of seemingly settled appeals.