Pro Jo reports that Gov. Chafee has signed the bill de-criminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. NOTE: This bill takes effect on April 1, 2013.

The Senate has approved a new Superior Court Justice, new Magistrates for the District and Family Court, and a new District Court Clerk.

California Prop. 8

The Ninth Circuit has denied rehearing in the Prop. 8 case, Perry v. Brown. The stage is now set for SCOTUS review . . .also likely in the First Circuit's DOMA case.