The lawsuit filed by California’s Attorney General and Secretary of State against Shasta County’s Measure B has had it’s first hearing in Shasta County Superior Court. The AG had initially tried to fast-track the suit by going straight to a State Court of Appeal, but that court sent it back to the county venue. The measure, which calls for major changes in how elections are run, got approval from 56% of voters, but the state says the changes it calls for are in violation of state law. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors has said it will not spend taxpayer dollars to defend the measure in court. During Tuesday’s pre-disposition hearing, Judge Ben Hanna said he wants top move the case through as quickly as possible ahead of the November General Election. On August 7th the court is set to decide whether too grant the state a preliminary injunction preventing Measure B from being implemented while arguments about its legality proceed in court.
-Steve Gibson