Legal
Direct Democracy Statutes and Cases Interpreting Them
The California Elections Code provides for aspects of direct democracy in this state. There have been many court decisions interpreting key provisions of the Elections Code. The following cases highlight some of the main decisions interpreting these statutory provisions. Initiatives...
Change California Taxpayers Can’t Believe In
As Katy Grimes noted, SB 132 by San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener “would allow prison inmates to decide their own sex, how they want to be addressed (Mr. Miss, Mrs. Ms.), and would require California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation...
California Bill to Allow Prison Inmates To Decide Their Own Sex
A bill by San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener would allow prison inmates to decide their own sex, how they want to be addressed (Mr. Miss, Mrs. Ms.), and would require California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials to refer to...
New Bureau of Environmental Justice Seeking Funding and Enforcement Power?
In February of 2018, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra created the Bureau of Environmental Justice within the Environment Section at the California Department of Justice. The mission of this agency within an agency is “to protect people and communities that...
Is There Liability for Enacting Unconstitutional Laws?
I have occasionally been asked whether there is any recourse when the Legislature and Governor enact a law that violates the state and/or federal constitutions. Obviously, the first action would be to challenge the enacted bill in either a state...
President Trump Lands Sixth Judge on Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
President Trump has successfully appointed six judges to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to Trump taking office, the Ninth Circuit had 19 Democratic appointees, 6 Republican appointees, and four vacancies, and is the most overturned court of appeals...