The California Racial Justice Act in Practice: Claims, Evidence, Remedies, and A

California Penal Code Section 745 prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction, or imposing a sentence, based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Now that the California Racial Justice Act (RJA) has been expanded and applies retroactively to all felony convictions as of January 1, 2026, a comprehensive understanding of the statute is essential for every criminal practitioner.Orly Ahrony of Ahrony Appeals Law Group will examine the four categories of RJA violations under section 745, subdivision (a); the evidentiary standards for proving a claim through statistical and aggregate data; and the remedies available at trial and after conviction. The presentation will also address RJA habeas corpus litigation under newly enacted Assembly Bill 1071, which lowers the prima facie threshold, provides for the appointment of counsel, and expands access to discovery to investigate and develop potential claims.Attendees will leave with a practical framework for identifying, pleading, litigating, and responding to RJA claims at every stage of the criminal process.