Judge Denies Lawmakers’ Bid to Join Redistricting Lawsuit: Mundell IN Perata and Nunez OUT

Bill Mundell, Chairman, Californians for Fair Redistricting

Sacramento Judge Gail Ohanesian ruled this afternoon that California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate Pro Tem Don Perata would not be able to join the lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer in order to knock Proposition 77, a Reapportionment Constitutional Amendment, off the November special election ballot. She ruled that Californians for Fair Representation, which is opposed to Proposition 77, could participate.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed the lawsuit last week, claiming that supporters of Proposition 77 violated the state Constitution by significantly changing the wording of the initiative after it was approved by state officials for circulation.

The initiative is one of three put on the Nov. 8 special election ballot by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It would give the power to draw legislative and congressional district boundaries to a panel of retired judges – a responsibility that’s currently in the hands of lawmakers.

“The judge felt the interests of (Californians for Fair Representation) was more direct than those of the others,” said Lance Olson, the attorney for both the lawmakers and the anti-Proposition 77 group.

Another interested party, the Committee for an Independent Voice, also was denied intervener status at Thursday’s hearing.

Harriet Hoffman, the group’s statewide coordinator, said her organization supports the initiative and wants to see it remain on the ballot. The group only asked to be named a party in the suit after lawmakers applied to be involved, Hoffman said.

A hearing on the fate of the initiative is scheduled July 21 in Sacramento County Superior Court.

Bill Mundell, chairman of Californians for Fair Redistricting, a group that gathered signatures to put the redistricting initiative on the ballot, said he felt confident the ballot initiative would survive next week’s hearing.

“Frankly, it’s irrelevant who joins the suit because it’s a frivolous lawsuit,” he said.

Agreed, it is frivolous and even the Los Angeles Times agrees, Prop. 77: No harm, no foul

But, will the Governor cut a deal prior to next week’s hearing?

Stay tuned.

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page