![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Political-Playback_-California-Capitol-News-You-Might-Have-Missed-4.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nBy Bo Tefu | California Black Media\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gov. Newsom Joins National Leaders at Rev. Jesse Jackson\u2019s Funeral; Orders Flags at Half-Staff<\/p>\n
Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Chicago last week to attend the funeral of Rev. Jesse Jackson, joining a gathering of prominent political leaders, clergy and civil rights figures paying tribute to one of the most influential voices in the modern civil rights movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memorial service, held March 6, brought together national figures from politics \u2014 including former Presidents Clinton, Obama and Biden and former Vice President Harris \u2013 as well as faith communities and social justice organizations. They honored Jackson\u2019s decades-long fight for racial equality, voting rights and economic justice.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol and all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the civil rights leader as the nation prepared to lay him to rest.<\/p>\n
Public memorial service for Jackson was followed by a private ceremony on March 7. Flags across California remained lowered until sunset March 8, according to the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
The order came as political leaders and civil rights advocates across the country remembered Jackson\u2019s decades-long role in pushing the United States to address racial inequality and expand opportunities for marginalized communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we pay our final respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson before he is laid to rest this weekend, I am ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor,\u201d Newsom said in a statement. \u201cReverend Jackson paved the righteous path that we now must walk to fulfill his vision of a better world, and his lifetime of lessons and wisdom leaves us well-prepared to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackson spent more than half a century advocating for civil rights, economic justice and greater political representation for underserved communities. A prominent national figure, he helped organize voter registration drives, led protests and pushed policymakers to address systemic inequities.<\/p>\n
Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) also praised Jackson\u2019s legacy and influence on generations of activists and public servants.<\/p>\n
\u201cReverend Jesse Jackson was a giant among us, who spent his life pushing America to live up to its promise,\u201d said Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), chair of the caucus. \u201cHis commitment reminds us that real progress happens when people from every background stand together in the pursuit of dignity and equality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Black Judges Now 9.9% of California Bench, New Judicial Diversity Report Shows\u00a0<\/p>\n
Black judges now make up 9.9% of California\u2019s judiciary, more than double their share two decades ago, according to the 2026 Judicial Officer Demographic Data report released March 2, by the Judicial Council of California.<\/p>\n
The annual report shows California\u2019s bench continuing a long-term trend toward greater diversity. Data collected from judges and justices as of Dec. 31, 2025, indicate that the share of Black or African American judicial officers has increased from 4.4% in 2006 to 9.9% in 2025.<\/p>\n
Overall, the report finds that the state\u2019s judiciary has become steadily more representative of California\u2019s population over the past 20 years. During that period, the percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic justices and judges combined has increased by more than 140%, while the share of women on the bench has grown significantly.<\/p>\n
Women now make up 44.9% of California\u2019s judges and justices, compared to 27.1% in 2006, an increase of 17.8 percentage points, according to the Judicial Council survey. The findings are based on voluntary demographic responses from judicial officers, with a response rate of 93%.<\/p>\n
The report also shows growth among other racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic or Latino judges account for 13.1% of the bench, up from 6.3% in 2006, while Asian judges now make up 11.9%, compared with 4.4% two decades ago. White judges represent 55.8% of the judiciary, down from 70.1% in 2006.<\/p>\n
Judicial branch leaders say increasing diversity remains a priority. Programs such as the Pathways to Judicial Diversity toolkit and statewide judicial mentorship initiatives encourage attorneys from underrepresented communities to pursue judicial careers.<\/p>\n
Since taking office in 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed 695 judges, with more than half identifying as women and more than half identifying as Asian, Black, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander, according to the report.<\/p>\n
The Judicial Council is required by state law to release the demographic survey annually. This year marks the 20th edition of the report, which tracks long-term trends in gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other characteristics among California\u2019s justices and judges.<\/p>\n
17 Small Businesses Receive $2 Million in State Funding; Applications Open for More Grants\u00a0<\/p>\n