Huntington Beach must continue to obey sanctuary state law, Supreme Court declines to hear its appeal

Huntington Beach must continue to abide by “sanctuary state” law after California’s highest court let stand an appellate court decision.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 1, declined without comment to hear the city’s challenge to a state law that limits police collaboration with federal immigration agents.

In January, California’s 4th District Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s ruling that allowed Huntington Beach to ignore the California Values Act.

The Huntington Beach City Council voted in April 2018 to sue the state over the then-new law. Huntington Beach argued its status as a charter city gives it ultimate control over its Police Department.

Six months later, an Orange County Superior Court judge agreed with Huntington Beach. But the legal battle continued after the state and the American Civil Liberties Union filed an appeal of the decision.

The three-judge Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the lower court’s opinion, deeming the law “constitutional as applied to charter cities because it addresses matters of statewide concern,”

The California Supreme Court denies most requests for reconsideration of lower-court decisions.

“This is tragic for the rule of law and for local control efforts,” Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said in an email, adding that “the state will continue to erode local city control.”

In its written decision earlier this year, the California Court of Appeals ordered the city to pay the appellants’ costs. Gates said he is unaware of any such expenses the city could incur.

Source: Orange County Register