The California Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Gov. Jerry Brown can continue pursuing a plan to reduce the state's prison inmate population by releasing certain nonviolent felons early while it considers a legal challenge.
The high court's brief order means Brown's supporters can gather signatures to qualify a measure for the November ballot while the court decides whether the governor made improper, late additions to a juvenile justice proposition.
A Sacramento County judge halted the qualifying process last month after the California District Attorneys Association filed a lawsuit challenging the late additions. The judge ruled that Brown's additions substantially changed the proposed ballot language after it had gone through a public comment period.
But the Supreme Court ruled last week that the qualifying process can continue while the lawsuit is being decided. It reaffirmed that position Wednesday while putting the onus on the prosecutors to show the governor's changes were improper, rather than having Brown defend the additions.