News
Ninth Circuit Strikes Down California Law Restricting Campaign Fundraising by Local Government Employees
On July 19, 2023, in Progressive Democrats for Social Justice vs. Bonta, the Ninth Circuit ruled that California Government Code Section 3205—which prohibits local government employees from soliciting campaign contributions from their co-workers—violates the First Amendment.
EEOC Provides Guidance on Assessing the Adverse Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Selection Procedures
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently issued guidance regarding the use of software, algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) in employers’ “selection procedures,” in other words, employment decisions related to hiring, promotion and firing. Learn more from RPLG Senior Counsel Spencer Wilson and Associate Anastasia Bondarchuk.
Renne Public Management Group Welcomes Former City Manager June Catalano
Renne Public Management Group (RPMG), a division of Renne Public Law Group (RPLG), is excited to announce the addition of June Catalano as its newest consultant. June recently retired from the City of Pleasant Hill after 17 years as city manager. Prior to that, she was city manager of the City of Martinez for five years. She has served as community development director in a wide range of cities, from Santa Ana to Laguna Beach to San Leandro.
2023 Renne Public Law Group Public Law Fellowship Fosters Collaboration and Career Growth
On June 5, our 2023 class of Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) fellows completed their public law programming, which encompassed 10 days of engaging speaker sessions, research projects and valuable mentorship opportunities.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Expands Protections
Beginning June 27, 2023, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) expands protections for pregnant employees and job applicants. The PWFA is a new federal law that requires private and public sector employers with at least 15 employees to provide “reasonable accommodations” to known limitations related to qualified employees’ and job applicants’ pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on business operations.
California Supreme Court Limits Governmental Immunity Statute That California Courts of Appeal Had Read More Broadly
The California Supreme Court recently rejected the Court of Appeal’s broad reading of Government Code section 821.6, which shields public employees acting within the scope of their employment from liability for “instituting or prosecuting any judicial or administrative proceeding” even if the action is “malicious and without probable cause.” The purpose of the statute is to protect public officials from malicious prosecution actions, but the plain language is broad enough to cover other types of tortious conduct.
Accomplished Attorneys at RPLG Honored as 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Star
RPLG is thrilled to announce that several of its attorneys have been honored with prestigious accolades from Super Lawyers, a renowned legal rating service.
Court of Appeal Upholds One-Term Limit and Salary Cap for County Supervisors
In San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors v. Monell (2023) 91 Cal.App.5th 1248, the Court of Appeal upheld a voter initiative setting an unprecedented one-term limit and significant salary reduction for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. While courts have generally upheld term limits, this case tests the outer bounds of such laws.
Renne Public Law Group Welcomes Sam Wheeler
Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) welcomes Sam Wheeler as Senior Counsel. Before joining RPLG, Sam spent more than eight years serving as a career law clerk for Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where he drafted orders and bench memoranda in a wide range of civil cases, as well as criminal proceedings. During Sam’s tenure, Judge Spero presided over more than 1,500 civil cases.
Renne Public Law Group Welcomes Rubin E. Cruse, Jr.
Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) welcomes Rubin E. Cruse Jr. as Of Counsel. Prior to joining RPLG, Rubin served over 24 years in the Shasta County Counsel’s Office, where he also served as the County Counsel for the Shasta County Board of Supervisors since 2010. His extensive first-hand experience navigating the various issues impacting California’s public sector makes him an excellent fit for RPLG’s team of attorneys.