California Supreme Court

High Court Ruling That Cities Can Ban Pot Shops Might Be Too Late For L.A.

The California Supreme Court today ruled that cities like Los Angeles can indeed ban pot shops through zoning if they so desire. Too late? After unsuccessfully trying to ban dispensaries, the L.A. City Council is backing a May 21 ballot initiative that would allow 100 or so of the marijuana busines ... More >>

Insane California Supreme Court Ruling Lets Compton's Omar Bradley Off the Hook For Playing Golf on Taxpayer Dime

What was the California Supreme Court thinking? In a piece about the Compton mayoral race, the Los Angeles Times skimmed over the fact that former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley, who was found guilty in 2004 of illegally spending thousands of taxpayers' dollars to pay for golf balls, cigars, and hotel ... More >>

Marijuana Dispensary Bans By Cities Legit? Calif. Supreme Court Leans That Way

If today's oral arguments were any sign, it's not looking like the California Supreme Court will take away cities' right to ban medical marijuana dispensaries. As oral arguments were heard in the potentially landmark City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient's Health and Wellness Center case today ... More >>

Marijuana Dispensary Bans On Trial In Calif. Supreme Court Case To Be Heard Feb. 5

The case medical marijuana proponents have been watching will head to the California Supreme Court for oral arguments Feb. 5 and could be decided by spring. City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient's Health and Wellness Center could end up deciding whether or not cities can ban pot shops outright ... More >>

Marijuana Dispensaries Banned in L.A. Per City Council Vote

See our updates, including a hail-Mary proposal to save some dispensaries, at the bottom. The L.A. City Council today voted to put an end to the city's infamous and numerous marijuana dispensaries, citing neighborhood concerns and court rulings that have questioned a city's right to regulate the re ... More >>

Marijuana Dispensary Bans Overturned by California Court, Pot-Access Activists Say

Can local governments in California ban marijuana dispensaries, as the city of Los Angeles seems poised to do soon? California's 2nd District Court of Appeal appeared to have said no in what medical access proponents are interpreting as a "landmark decision" this week. In County of Los Angeles v. ... More >>

Marijuana Decision by Calif. Supreme Court Allows Cities Like L.A. to Shut Down Pot Shops

Added at the bottom: Americans for Safe Access argues that the decision doesn't outlaw cannabis sales just yet. Medical marijuana is legal in California. But you can't sell medical marijuana in California? It's a contentious issue, one that even the author of California's dispensary legislation ar ... More >>

State Supreme Court Rules Employers Must Provide Meal Breaks, But You Must Take Them

If you're an hourly employee who works more than five hours a day, you are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break -- but, as the California Supreme Court just ruled, it's up to you to make sure you exercise your legal right to do so. The state Supreme Court's unanimous decision is a culmination of n ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in L.A. See Ray of Hope in Face of Ban: California Supreme Court Could Throw a Lifeline

We feel a little sorry for all those pot shop employees sweating out the future of their paychecks, but the battle over marijuana dispensaries in Southern California is turning out to be epic, with the kind of last-minute touchdowns we saw in last weekend's 49ers-Saints game. It has us on the edge ... More >>

Redevelopment Agencies Across California, Including L.A. CRA, Abolished: Governor Jerry Brown Victorious

The struggle between hundreds of California redevelopment agencies and Governor Jerry Brown, who bashed them for stealing millions from schools and essential services, is over. The governor wins this round, with flying colors. Not only did a California Supreme Court judge rule, this morning, that ... More >>

Same Sex Marriage Ban Can be Defended by Religious Nuts, State Supreme Court Rules

Cobra​Updated at the bottom with California Attorney General Kamala Harris rooting for LGBT rights. First posted at 11:02 a.m. The battle over the legality of Prop. 8, the state voter initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage, continued on its epic way today as the California Supreme Court r ... More >>

'Crappy' Republican Lawsuits Against New, Citizen-Drawn Voting Districts Thrown Out by California Supreme Court

uncoverage.netIs the Citizens Redistricting Commission out to get the GOP?​The refreshingly un-gerrymandered voting districts unveiled by California's new Citizens Redistricting Commission in June have a damn good chance of going to stone, thanks to the California Supreme Court's big "F you" t ... More >>

Porn vs. Condoms: AIDS Healthcare Foundation Takes Case For Mandatory Condoms in L.A. Porn All The Way to State Supreme Court

eladarling.comPorn star Ela Darling.​Porn stars must wear condoms! Or not. Well, if you ask L.A.'s AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Mr. Jim Hats is a must. And even though the group lost a 2nd District Court of Appeal case last month in which it argued that L.A. County health officials must make p ... More >>

California Death Penalty Could be Overturned With Your Vote: L.A. Police Union Says No to Statewide Ballot Measure

Richard Ramirez is still alive.​To kill or not to kill, that is the question that could be coming to a voting booth near you. Will you pull the trigger? The state Assembly's Public Safety Committee approved Berkeley state Senator Loni Hancock's SB 490 last week, setting off a firestorm of cri ... More >>

Porn Actress Contracted HIV in 2009: Judge Blocks State Workplace Regulators From Peeking at her Medical Records

​Update: The AIDS Healthcare Foundation says it will appeal the ruling to the California Supreme Court. Details at the bottom. A previously unknown HIV case in porn was revealed this week after an adult performer sued California workplace regulators who wanted access to her medical records. ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Users Might be Protected From Getting Fired Under California Bill That's Gaining Traction

Working and playing?​Good news, stoners: A movement that would hogtie California employers who want to fire you for partaking of your medicine (while off-duty, of course) is a little closer to becoming law this week. The State Senate Judiciary Committee just said yes to Sen. Mark Leno's bill ... More >>

California Attorney General Kamala Harris Joins Obama as Friend of the Gays, Asks Court to Lift Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

​Updated after the jump with high fives from across the gay-rights community. After disappointing news came two weeks ago that the fight against Prop. 8 is being delayed until at least September, brand-new California Attorney General Kamala Harris took matters into her own hands today, airing ... More >>

California Supreme Court Delays Prop. 8 Hearing Until Fall; 2011 Complete Wash for Gay Marriage

Hope y'all like stale wedding cake​One small step toward repealing Prop. 8 was taken today -- but it's safe to say the California State Supreme Court announcement was no great step for mankind. Basically, the court just set a date for hearing whether or not a website, Protectmarriage.com, can ... More >>

Cops In California Don't Need A Warrant To Search Your Cell Phone For Info (Like Those Sexting Messages You Have Stored)

hotgirlswithiphones.comCops in California can legally search your phone if you're arrested.​In the Department of Scary Shit, the California Supreme Court ruled this week that, yeah, cops can check out the contents of your mobile phone without a search warrant. Really? Wow. Just what we need ... More >>

Some Illegal Immigrants Down With A Discount At California Colleges

​Yeah, you heard right: Illegal immigrants who went to K-12 school in California are still eligible to be treated as "residents" -- and thus will pay in-state tuition fees at state colleges instead of the exorbitant prices charged out-of-staters and foreigners. But aren't they foreigners -- i ... More >>

Albert Greenwood Brown Execution And Six Others On California Death Row Put Off By Judge -- Now, Months Of Wrangling Over Killer Poison

​Updated with Attorney General's office calling off the execution. First posted at 11:46 a.m. That California death row execution of Albert Greenwood Brown, Jr., scheduled for Wednesday, then Thursday, looks like its it might not happen any time soon. Update: California Attorney General Jerr ... More >>

Prop. 8: California Does Not Have To Defend Same-Sex Marriage Ban, Court Rules

​The state of California does not have to defend Prop. 8, the law the prohibits same-sex marriage, in court, leaving open the possibility that a recent court decision overturning the ban will stand. The state's 3rd District court of appeal on Thursday ruled that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and ... More >>

Pot Advocates Have High Hopes For Jerry Brown In Gubernatorial Race: Meg Whitman Harshes Their Mellow

​Medical marijuana advocates who want to end the practice of eliminating job candidates and firing employees who use pot with a doctor's okay have high hopes that gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown will get elected and sign a law that stops the practices. In 2008 the legislature passed a bil ... More >>

Schwarzenegger Picks First Asian-American Chief Justice For California Supreme Court

​Following the retirement of Chief Ron George, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to nominate Tani Cantil-Sakauye, a Republican appellate court justice, to become the next chief justice of the California Supreme Court, according to the Sacramento Bee. Not only will 50-year old ... More >>

Medical Pot Possession Cases Thrown Out, Dropped Up North

​Last week we told you how some Southern California California juries were letting medical marijuana dispensary operators off the hook in recent pot possession and trafficking cases. Now it looks like some juries up north are also letting medical pot sellers and users walk away after they've b ... More >>

Marijuana Law Backer Joins Legal Challenge Of Pot-Shop Bans

​State Sen. Mark Leno, co-author of the state's medical marijuana clarification act (SB 420), has joined a court challenge that will help decide whether cities can ban medical marijuana dispensaries in a state that approves them. The San Francisco Democrat filed a legal brief in Qualified Pat ... More >>

State 'High' Court Overturns Limit On Personal Medical Marijuana

​The California Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a law limiting medical marijuana patients to having eight ounces of pot at one time. The court stated that the law was drawn up by the legislature, and only the people have the right to amend voter-approved propositions such as the one in q ... More >>

Setting the (Gay) Wedding Table

Wiser, more diffuse, battle-savvy gay-rights groups craft a 2010 ballot measure for California

Mike Gin, Redondo Beach’s Chinese-American, Rotarian, Gay Mayor

(Meet Hizzoner)

Proposition 8 Ruling Sets up California War

Gay-marriage culture battle deepens between gays, Latinos, Christians, liberals

Proposition 8: Fuck That! Mito Aviles and ChadMichael Morrisette's Subtle West Hollywood Rooftop Installation

What do you say to Prop. 8? Mito Aviles and ChadMichael Morrisette, the two West Hollywood designers who hung Sarah Palin in effigy on their roof, have another installation up in protest of the California Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold Proposition 8, which bans gays from getting married. ... More >>

Queer Town: Obama Still Avoids Prop. 8 at Beverly Hills Fundraiser

At a star-studded fundraiser at the Beverly Hilton last night, President Barack Obama still avoided talking about the California Supreme Court's ruling on Proposition 8 and full marriage equality. According to Variety's Managing Editor Ted Johnson, Obama made a brief remark about gay rights when he ... More >>

California Supreme Court Upholds Proposition 8, allows 18,000 marriages

In a split decision that ultimately heavily favors the opponents of gay marriage, the California Supreme Court today, May 26, upheld Proposition 8 while allowing about 18,000 gay marriages already performed to stand.Reaction was swift from both sides, who had organized large groups scattered across& ... More >>

Queer Town: Theories Abound Over Proposition 8 Ruling

As gay rights activists and anti-gay marriage forces wait for the California Supreme Court to finally rule on Proposition 8, the ballot measure that took away the existing right of gay and lesbian couples to legally marry in California, the Internet has become a place of endless, somewhat humorous s ... More >>

New Gay-Marriage War Coming to California

Many expect state Supreme Court to back Proposition 8

THERE'S NO FUSION LIKE GAY FUSION

Letters: Old and Not in the Way

The face of post–Prop. 8 gay leadership; and more musings on Gold

Prolonged Battle over Proposition 8

It looks like the gay marriage ban won, but activists could upend the victory

Queer Town: The Personal Choices of Proposition 8

Election Day comes tomorrow, and I'm sitting on the couch in my West Hollywood apartment on an early Monday morning with Antony & the Johnsons playing on the stereo. The volume is not too loud, Antony sings in a quivering voice about dreams coming true, and, after covering Proposition 8 for the past ... More >>

Queer Town: Opponents of Gay Marriage Release New TV Ad

The Yes on Prop. 8 campaign has released a new television ad today, featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Frank Schubert, campaign manager of ProtectMarriage.com, the umbrella group leading the fight to ban same sex marriage in California, also asks supporters to donate $3.6 million in the com ... More >>

Protecting Obama from Gay Marriage Politics

Activists argue that now isn't the time for more gay lawsuits

Queer Town: Let the Gay Times Roll...

"Ring them bells St. Catherine/ From the top of the room, Ring them from the fortress/ For the lilies that bloom. Oh the lines are long/ And the fighting is strong And they're breaking down the distance/ Between right and wrong." "Ring Them Bells," Bob Dylan Gay marriage is a r ... More >>

Queer Town: The Fat is in the Fire

The court has not only ignored the will of the people and imposed a redefinition of marriage on Californians, it has inflicted years of legal chaos, quite possibly on the entire country. Glen Lavy, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, in the New York Times These are not happy days for s ... More >>

Queer Town: June Weddings For Gays

This morning, the California Supreme Court denied a request to rehear its May 15 ruling that legalized same sex marriage. Gay and lesbian couples can now wed, starting on June 17--the date set by the state. Now it's only a question if county clerks throughout California can quickly change the fine ... More >>

California GOP: The Queer Enablers of Gay Marriage

How Republicans accomplished what the Dems could not

California Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage!

Citing the 60-year-old landmark case Perez v. Sharp, which struck down California's ban on interracial marriage, the California Supreme Court ruled today that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional. The Court's decision nullified Proposition 22, the statewide referendum out ... More >>

Key Moments in the Struggle for Gay Marriage in the U.S.

Holy unions to Supreme Court battles

California Supreme Court Set to Consider Gay Marriage

Meet the L.A. four who started all the trouble

All Families Created Equal

The responsibilities of gay parents

Testing in L.A.