Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Judge: Law violates Prop. 209
Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/13/5 | Jim Sanders

Posted on 05/13/2005 3:20:16 PM PDT by SmithL

California lawmakers improperly and unconstitutionally adopted legislation two years ago that violated the state's ban on race-based preferences, a Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled Thursday.

Ward Connerly called the ruling by Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Cecil another "nail in the coffin of preferences" based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Connerly had argued in the suit that Assembly Bill 703, signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis, was an "end run" around Proposition 209, a 1996 initiative banning preferences in state hiring, contracting and education.

"This is a happy day for me, personally, and for all of us who are identified with the Proposition 209 campaign," Connerly said Thursday. He is a Sacramento businessman and former University of California regent who has led efforts to ban race-and gender-based preferences.

Cecil's ruling expanded on a decision last September by the 3rd District Court of Appeal, which also rejected the legality of AB 703 in a case involving the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

There was disagreement Thursday about the significance of Cecil's ruling.

Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, disputed Connerly's contention that Cecil's ruling will alter how the state views or reacts to AB 703.

"Today's ruling said the governor and attorney general cannot enforce a statute that they never did enforce and had no intention of enforcing," Dresslar said.

No decision has been made on whether to appeal Thursday's ruling, he said.

Connerly's attorney, Paul Beard of the Pacific Legal Foundation, said public agencies, including San Francisco and the Berkeley Unified School District, have continued to use the disputed law to defend what he believes are illegal programs.

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: ab703; affirmativeracism; connerly; discrimination; dymally; prop209; wardconnerly

1 posted on 05/13/2005 3:20:17 PM PDT by SmithL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Every one of these racists should lose their jobs... especially to a conservative of "color." See how they like it. :-)


2 posted on 05/13/2005 3:32:14 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (We shall overcome)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CounterCounterCulture

Amen.


3 posted on 05/13/2005 3:33:34 PM PDT by HowardDeanScream08
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CounterCounterCulture
There should be a requirement that the people who voted for and signed the law that it void should be removed from office by that ruling.
4 posted on 05/13/2005 6:32:25 PM PDT by Domangart (4+)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CounterCounterCulture
Somewhere in the dim recesses of my memory, I seem to recall an affirmative action case (Michigan?) that landed in the SCOTUS, whereupon our "compassionate conservatism" President instructed the Solicitor General to file an amicus brief in support of the university and affirmative action.

Just makes you tear up, doesn't it?

5 posted on 05/13/2005 6:39:27 PM PDT by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SmithL
see the following cross-link, pls.

AB 703 contained UN language

6 posted on 05/13/2005 6:44:27 PM PDT by Alia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

The legislation at the heart of the fight, AB 703, was proposed by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, who declined to comment on Thursday's ruling other than to say he wants to appeal.

In proposing AB 703, Dymally had argued that it filled a loophole. Proposition 209 banned discrimination by public agencies but didn't define the term, he said.

His bill, now Government Code 8315, provided a definition that its supporters claimed could legally benefit underrepresented groups. The measure was approved by lawmakers on a party-line vote, with Republicans opposed.

AB 703 used a definition of discrimination that stemmed from the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and was part of a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1965.

The definition stated that "special measures" taken on behalf of underrepresented groups are not necessarily discriminatory.

Good Job, Ward Connerly!!! The good guys win one.

7 posted on 05/13/2005 7:17:41 PM PDT by calcowgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alia
Thanks.... Correcting your link

AB 703 contained UN language

8 posted on 05/13/2005 7:20:41 PM PDT by calcowgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: calcowgirl

Democrats = The Party of Slavery and Racism
The more things change, the more they stay the same.


9 posted on 05/13/2005 7:22:47 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (We shall overcome)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

OK, Question time! Who appointed the judge?


10 posted on 05/13/2005 7:24:20 PM PDT by BJungNan (Check out http://echotalon.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

The racists are now using race to discriminate against people of noncolor. How appropriate for these insecure, spiteful, and liberal weenies.


11 posted on 05/13/2005 7:25:09 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - there are countless observable clues that God exists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BJungNan
OK, Question time! Who appointed the judge?

He was appointed to the Municipal Court by George Deukmejian (R)
and to the Superior Court by Pete Wilson (R).

12 posted on 05/13/2005 7:54:07 PM PDT by calcowgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CounterCounterCulture

How true!


13 posted on 05/13/2005 7:54:39 PM PDT by calcowgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: calcowgirl
He was appointed to the Municipal Court by George Deukmejian (R) and to the Superior Court by Pete Wilson (R).

Thanks. You would think the reporters would routinely include this in their stories. Someone needs to change the style book to identify judges as they do Congressman.

For Example: Senatory Barbara Boxer (D-Ca). In the case of this judge it could be "Judge Name" (Wilson - R) to signify who appointed them and what party the person that appointed them belonged to at the time of appointment.

14 posted on 05/13/2005 10:23:41 PM PDT by BJungNan (Check out http://echotalon.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: calcowgirl

Thank you.


15 posted on 05/15/2005 4:13:37 AM PDT by Alia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson