In a unanimous ruling on May 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court revived a
civil rights lawsuit against Houston-area traffic officer Roberto Felix Jr.,
who fatally shot 24-year-old Ashtian Barnes during a 2016 traffic stop. The
Court overturned the
California Public Safety Labor Blog
Blog Authors
Latest from California Public Safety Labor Blog
AB 2561: New Amendments to the MMBA Bring Transparency to the Public Sector Vacancy Crisis
By Mastagni Law
AB
2561, signed into law in September 2024, amends the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act
(MMBA) to address the persistent public sector vacancy crisis in California
while significantly enhancing the role of public sector unions in…
When Agency Heads Must Speak Up: PERB’s New Video Notice Remedy
By Mastagni Law
If you’re a public safety employee in California, you know
your job comes with high stakes and unique workplace challenges. You also have
rights under state labor laws, enforced by the Public Employment Relations
Board (PERB). In two recent cases…
The President Signs the "Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens" Executive Order
By Mastagni Law
President Donald J. Trump, signed an Executive Order dated
April 28, 2025, titled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law
Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens.” The order
focuses on empowering state and local law enforcement by providing legal
protections,…
Recent PERB Decision Shows Us Why You Shouldn’t Waive Your Right to a Skelly Hearing
By Mastagni Law
Watch: David E. Mastagni Testifies In Support of Bill Prohibiting Employers from Questioning Union Representatives About Confidential Communications with Unit Employees
By Mastagni Law
On
March 19, 2025, Partner Attorney David E. Mastagni testified before the State Assembly
Public Employment and Retirement Committee in support of AB 340 on behalf of
the Peace Officers’ Research Association of California (PORAC). AB 340 would
prohibit…
Public Employment Relations Board Reinforces Peace Officer Confidentiality in Personnel Records and Applicability of Pitchess Procedures in Administrative Hearings
By Mastagni Law
SCOTUS Update: Law Enforcement Groups Again File Brief in Support of Petition for Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court to Review Excessive CCW Carry Restrictions
By Mastagni Law
On February 18, 2025, the Peace Officers’ Research Association of California, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California State Sheriffs’ Association and the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPPC) filed an amicus brief in support of a Petition for Certiorari …
Ninth Circuit Ruling Prompts Refusal to Respond to Mental Health Calls
By Mastagni Law
Because of a new ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, some firefighters and other first responders are finding themselves left without police backup as more and more departments are saying that they will no longer dispatch officers to…
Chief of Police Forced Out After Sending Racially-Charged Private Messages: Ninth Circuit Finds No First Amendment Violation by the County as Chief’s Speech Not Protected by the First Amendment
By Mastagni Law
