[JURIST] San Francisco Superior Court [official website] Judge James L. Warren ruled Monday that the University of California [official website] system broke a contract with students when it raised fees during their three-year professional programs. Under the ruling the system should refund more than $33.8 million, primarily to students who enrolled in the professional schools in 2002 or earlier.

University of California officials say it was always made clear that fees could change. Citing a budget crisis, they contended that it was necessary to raise fees in 2003 to cover cuts in funding. Fees will be raised again for the 2006/7 academic year, in part to cover the costs of the lawsuit [UC Office of the President, 2006-07 Budget Proposal]. AP has more. The Los Angeles Times has local coverage.