Judges give California more time to fix prisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Federal judges agreed Tuesday to extend an end-of-year deadline for reducing California’s prison population in hopes of finding a long-term solution to an overcrowding crisis.
The ruling also granted at least a temporary victory to Gov. Jerry Brown on the issue,
Brown had been fighting against an early release of inmates to comply with the federal court’s order, saying it jeopardized public safety.
The panel of three federal judges granted the delay until Jan. 27 but said all parties must meet with a separate judge, who will make recommendations to the panel by mid-October.
In their order, the three judges say they want to ensure a durable solution to the prison crowding problem.
Cruz to continue effort to stop health-care law
WASHINGTON – Tea party conservative Sen. Ted Cruz Tuesday vowed to speak in opposition to President Barack Obama’s health-care law until he’s “no longer able to stand,” even though fellow Republicans privately urged him to back down from his filibuster for fear of a possible government shutdown in a week.
“This grand experiment is simply not working,” the Texas freshman told a largely empty chamber of the president’s signature domestic issue. “It is time to make D.C. listen.”
Egged on by conservative groups, the potential 2016 presidential candidate excoriated Republicans and Democrats in his criticism of the 3-year-old health-care law and Congress’ willingness to gut the law. Cruz supports the House-passed bill that would avert a government shutdown and defund Obamacare, as do many Republicans.
However, they lack the votes to stop Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., from moving ahead on the measure, stripping the health care provision and sending the spending bill back to the House.
Critics seek removal of judge in rape case
HELENA, Mont. – Critics of a Montana judge who handed down a 30-day sentence to a former teacher convicted of raping a student lodged a formal complaint Tuesday asking for his removal from the bench.
The complaint alleges that District Judge G. Todd Baugh of Billings showed bias and undermined public confidence in the judiciary when he said the 14-year-old victim was “older than her chronological age.”
It also faults Baugh for giving convicted rapist Stacey Rambold a lenient sentence that prosecutors have since appealed as illegal.
Representatives of the Montana National Organization for Women and the group UltraViolet delivered the complaint to the state Judicial Standards Commission in Helena.
Rambold, 54, received 15 years in prison with all but a month suspended for raping the Billings Senior High School student in 2007. He is due to be released from the state prison in Deer Lodge on Thursday.
Victim Cherice Moralez killed herself in 2010 before the case went to trial.
Associated Press
