Calif. high court upholds affirmative action ban

AP ^ | August 2, 2010 | AP

[WilliamIII]

SAN FRANCISCO — California's high court on Monday upheld the state's 14-year-old law barring preferential treatment of women and minorities in public school admissions, government hiring and contracting.

In a 6-1 ruling, the state Supreme Court rejected arguments from the city of San Francisco and Attorney General Jerry Brown that the law, known as Proposition 209, violates federal equality protections.

Opponents of the ban say it creates barriers for minorities and women that don't exist for other groups, such as veterans seeking preference.

The ruling written by Justice Kathryn Werdegar came in response to lawsuits filed by white contractors challenging San Francisco's affirmative action program, which was suspended in 2003.

"As the court recognized, Proposition 209 is a civil rights measure that protects everyone, regardless of background," said Sharon Browne, a lawyer for the Pacific Legal Foundation, which represented the contractors. "Under Proposition 209, no one can be victimized by unfair government policies that discriminate or grant preferences based on sex or skin color."

[freespirited]

Opponents of the ban say it creates barriers for minorities and women that don't exist for other groups, such as veterans seeking preference.

So what exactly are the barriers? Having to compete on the same terms as everyone else?

[SunkenCiv]

...upheld the state's 14-year-old law barring preferential treatment of women and minorities in public school admissions, government hiring and contracting. In a 6-1 ruling...

Thanks WilliamIII.

[TheOldLady]

(the only way to argue this is to unequivocably state that minorities are inferior, and cannot possibly succeed on a level playing field)

That is the democrat position.

[flowerplough]

Affirmative action, in my lifetime, has been little more than the fairness fetishists’ unintended consequence, poisoning the future in a futile attempt to correct the past.

[TheOldLady]

I have to agree with Mariner at Post #12. There is de facto affirmative action in California. Leftists don’t need no stinking laws.

[Friendofgeorge]

It wont last long? I mean this is the same court that brought gay marriage to California, via the back door and against the will of the people that voted.

But give credit where credit is due I guess. I guess we see the California Courts showing their real colors on Nov 2nd Arizona day, via the 9th circuit this time

[gnickgnack2]

You mean like UNIONS?

[Gabrial]

Does this mean Obama will have to step down?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TheOldLady, and Mariner.