Extending the California Advantage: The Golden State’s People Power Is a Model for the Nation
Commentary
With a steadily worsening homeless crisis, unemployment fraud of more than $30 billion, and fathomless pension debt, California would hardly seem a model for the nation. On the other hand, beyond the favorable climate, Californians do enjoy considerable advantages. For example, Californians can reject judges who do not follow the law, such as state supreme court justice Cruz Reynoso, who passed away this month at the age of 90.
The UC Berkeley law grad made a name for himself with California Rural Legal Assistance, and in 1982 Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him to the state Supreme Court. During the confirmation process, Cruz Reynoso denied he would favor minorities and criminal defendants and claimed, “I will follow the law.” Once on the state’s highest court, he didn’t.