*Breaking News* California Supreme Court Rejects Second GOP Lawsuit on Newsom Mid-Decade Gerrymander Plan

Anyone following this knew that this was more or less expected…

I wrote yesterday saying a writ was filed on behalf of petitioners including Assemblywoman Kathryn Sanchez, Assemblyman Tri Ta, Senators Suzette Valladares and Tony Strickland, among others, urging the California Supreme Court to halt the November 4th special election on redistricting ballot initiative.

And here was my final take:

I think on the merits this case is solid. The political question is whether this partisan court, with six appointees of Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown dominating, will actually consider the merits. Or just reject it as they “play ball” as liberal activists on the court. We shall see!

And it would appear that the politics did trump the policy here (pardon the pun). Issuing a one sentence denial to hear the writ.

Senators Tony Strickland and Suzette Valladares, and Assemblymembers Kate Sanchez and Tri Ta, issued a joint statement:

“The Supreme Court’s abdication in its responsibility to be a check and balance on the other branches of the government, let alone deny the opportunity to even hear the arguments being made, undermines voter confidence and sets a terrifying precedent that the governor and a willing legislature can blatantly disregard and violate the constitution at will, without the fear of any accountability or punishment.”

The real question is going to be what happens when this is challenged in federal court, where the road ends in a much different Supreme Court. But I have been told by people smarter about the law than me that those federal challenges may not be “ripe” unless and until Prop. 50 actually passes.