On Monday morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in North American Title Co. v. Superior Court. (Briefs here; oral argument video here.)
The opinion is expected to address these questions: (1) Is the requirement that a party seeking to disqualify a trial judge for alleged lack of impartiality file a verified statement of disqualification “at the earliest practicable opportunity” subject to waiver or forfeiture? (2) Did the Court of Appeal err in concluding that the trial judge’s challenged statements did not qualify as expressions of the court’s views on issues pending before it in the proceeding? The court granted review in August 2023. More about the case here.
When the decision issues, it will have been 60 days between opinions. The last opinion was filed on August 29. (See here.) That’s normal for this time of year; actually, it’s a bit shorter drought than usual. (See here and here.)
Monday’s filing will leave two of the three September calendar cases yet to be decided. The opinions in those cases should file by December 2. The other argued but undecided cases are the four that were heard in October, with opinions in those due by January 6, 2025.
The North American Title opinion can be viewed Monday starting at 10:00 a.m.