Judges Order California Governor to Release 10,000 Inmates

On June 20, a three judge panel ordered California to reduce its prison population by 10,000 persons. California has been under court order to reduce its prison population since 2009.

According to Reuters, the panel criticized California’s slow approach to dealing with their prison overcrowding and threatened to hold Gov. Jerry Brown in contempt if he does not act on their order quickly.

Brown argued that he lacks the authority to carry out the court’s orders. State law makers said they are working on legislation to change that. 

The new order requires California to report every two weeks on steps it is taking to comply with the court. “Failure to take such steps or to report such steps every two weeks shall constitute an act of contempt,” the order reads.

Brown is seeking a stay of the court’s order.

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