FEINSTEIN FRACAS: The judge presiding over the bitter legal drama around Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s family finances had a clear message to the parties today: Settle this outside of court, in private. Superior Court Judge Roger Picquet, presiding over the first public hearing in the case, ordered attorneys for Feinstein and the trustees of her last husband’s estate to go to mediation. “I am looking for a global outcome, if we can get it,†said Picquet, who was brought in from San Luis Obispo County because the senator’s daughter, Katherine Feinstein, is a former San Francisco judge. Both parties said they welcomed the move — though there were indications that finding a resolution could be difficult. Katherine Feinstein has filed a series of lawsuits against the trustees managing the estate of the senator’s late husband, billionaire financier Richard Blum. She wants to compel the trustees to make payments for her mother’s medical treatment and to allow the sale of a family home in Stinson Beach. The Blum trustees have denied wrongdoing and alleged the dispute is driven by Katherine Feinstein’s greed. They also question whether the daughter should have power of attorney for the senator. Today, an attorney for the trustees doubled down on speculation about whether Katherine Feinstein is accurately representing her mother’s wishes. “There is no evidence of what the senator wants,†said attorney Steven Braccini. — Dustin Gardiner ABOUT FACE: Police will have free rein until at least 2024 to use facial recognition technology with officer-worn body cameras. Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) tabled her bill to extend a recently expired ban on the technology. Wilson and the ACLU, which sponsored the bill, told POLITICO they will try again next year. This session featured a clash between legislators who supported regulating the technology and those who wanted to extend the outright ban. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who authored the original moratorium, pushed legislation to allow facial recognition in body cams and more broadly with regulations. Critics of Ting’s bill pushed for full prohibition, and it was held in committee in May. The debate looks likely to continue next year. Wilson chief of staff Taylor Woolfork said they wanted to work on a solution with Ting, who voted for Wilson’s bill on the floor, but said she remains “very strongly supportive of a ban at this point and wants to see if we can get that done.†— Forest Hunt SPOILER ALERT — Carl DeMaio’s Reform California is looking to flex its muscle in a region where it holds sway with a large number of volunteers. The group today announced a new push that targets Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, a Democrat-turned-Republican from the San Diego area. Reform California wants to direct Republicans and independents to vote for his opponent and help punish Democrats for their votes in Sacramento. Maienschein is eyeing the city attorney’s office, and California politicos are watching closely how groups like Reform play in Dem-on-Dem races. The ultimate place they might have influence is if Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter emerge to a Senate runoff — allowing right-leaning groups to try to play spoiler. — Christopher Cadelago
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