California Supreme Court

Advocates of same-sex marriage in California suffered a setback Thursday when the state Supreme Court ruled that proponents of Proposition 8 had standing to defend the ballot measure in court. Had the court ruled the other way, a federal appeals court that had sought the state court's advice might well have dismissed the case. That would have left intact — at least in the absence of a U.S. Supreme Court appeal — District Judge Vaughn R. Walker's powerful ruling that Proposition 8 violated the Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection of the laws.

Reporting from San Francisco -- The California Supreme Court ruled that the sponsors of Proposition 8 have the right to defend the measure, clearing the way for federal courts to decide the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans. Thursday's unanimous decision, written by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, strongly affirmed that ballot sponsors may represent California in defending initiatives when elected officials fail to do so. Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris have refused to challenge last year's federal ruling against Proposition 8. "Neither the Governor, the Attorney General, nor any other executive or legislative official has the authority to veto or invalidate an initiative measure that has been approved by the voters," Cantil-Sakauye wrote for the court.

Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles -- The California Supreme Court appears inclined to permit the state to abolish municipal redevelopment agencies, but the justices did not clearly signal whether some of the entities could continue to operate as long as they shared tax revenues with schools and special districts. During a hearing Thursday, the high court examined a lawsuit filed by redevelopment agencies that sought to overturn two laws passed earlier this year in an attempt to balance the state budget.

The California Supreme Court, considering a case that will affect meal and rest breaks for all non-unionized hourly workers, appeared inclined Tuesday to give employees flexibility in choosing whether to take scheduled breaks. The state high court heard arguments in a potential class action lawsuit that is expected to clarify labor requirements for meal and rest breaks. Lawyers for workers in a wide array of industries have swamped the courts with such suits, leaving employers anxious for the state high court to resolve uncertainties in the law. "In L.A. Superior Court, virtually every day there is at least one and usually more" class action suits over work breaks, said Century City lawyer Scott Witlin, who represents employers and watched Tuesday's hearing, broadcast on cable television and the Internet.

The California Supreme Court appeared ready Tuesday to rule that the backers of Proposition 8 and other ballot measures have the right to defend them in court, a stance that would give opponents of same-sex marriage the chance to champion the initiative all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. During an hour of oral arguments, several justices appeared skeptical that only elected state officials may defend measures passed by voters, as gay-rights lawyers claimed. If that were the case, same-sex marriages would resume in California because Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty.

Reporting from San Francisco -- After a protracted and ultimately losing battle for a seat on a federal appeals court, UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu sailed through his state confirmation hearing Wednesday to join the California Supreme Court. During a 70-minute hearing, witness after witness lavished praise on Liu, a constitutional scholar whose nomination to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was derailed earlier this year by Republicans in the U.S. Senate. The state Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed him unanimously.

Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles -- Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu to the California Supreme Court, picking a liberal legal scholar whose nomination for a seat on a federal appeals court was stubbornly blocked by conservative Republicans. Liu, 40, whose nomination is expected to be approved by a three-member confirmation panel, will become the fourth Asian on the seven-member, moderately conservative court and probably its most liberal member.

The California Supreme Court upheld the right of cities to ban plastic bags, ruling Thursday that a full-scale environmental review may not always be needed to prohibit stores from giving bags to their customers. Environmentalists lauded the unanimous decision, calling it a victory for environmental protection. But a lawyer for plastic bag makers said the manufacturers would continue to sue municipalities that impose bans without environmental impact reports. The ruling overturned two lower court decisions and upheld a 2008 plastic bag ban by Manhattan Beach.

The California Supreme Court sent a stern warning Monday to youths who play with firecrackers: If a blaze breaks out, you may be found guilty of arson. The state high court ruled 5 to 2 in the case of two 17-year-olds who in July 2008 set off a cherry bomb in the foothills above Pasadena that caused five acres of brush to burn in the Angeles National Forest. A juvenile court commissioner found that the teens did not mean to set a fire but knew that throwing the cherry bomb might ignite one. The teens were sentenced to home probation.