SANTA MONICA, Calif.,
Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In
an historic moment for democracy in Santa
Monia and California, the
California Supreme Court granted review of a lower court's ruling
that the City of Santa Monica did
not violate the California Voting Rights Act by using an at-large
voting system.
In addition, the California Supreme Court ordered that the Court
of Appeal's opinion on this matter to be de-published.
In 2018, a Los Angeles judge
ruled in favor of Pico Neighborhood Association and against the
City of Santa Monica in an
historic voter rights trial to help bring greater representation to
Santa Monica's minority Latino
population. Rex Parris, on behalf of
the Pico Neighborhood Association, argued that Santa Monica's minority voters were
effectively silenced by the City's at-large election system in
violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the California
Constitution. In fact, during trial it was revealed Santa Monica had actually done its own study
which clearly showed that its election system is rigged against
minority voters.
However, this ruling was overturned by the California Court of Appeal. This overturned
decision will now be heard by the California Supreme Court to
determine the future of Santa
Monica's voting system, and potentially set a precedent
throughout California.
"The fight for justice is an ongoing battle, and we're grateful
the highest court in California
has deemed this matter important enough to consider overturning the
Court of Appeals' decision," said attorney R. Rex Parris of The PARRIS Law Firm. "At a time
when Americans throughout the country are fighting for voter
rights, we have our own battle on that very issue right here in
Southern California."
At the trial in 2018, Mr. Parris argued that due to a lack of
proper representation, Santa
Monica's minority population in the Pico Neighborhood has
been inundated with a heavier burden of trash issues, construction
and more because it has been so disenfranchised. The plaintiffs
also alleged Santa Monica's
at-large system violates the California Voting rights Act of 2001
and is the result of intentional discrimination against the city's
ethnic minority residents since 1946.
Petition for Review:
https://www.parris.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pna-petition-for-review-filed.pdf-002.pdf
Supreme Court Ruling:
https://www.parris.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Pico-Amicus-Letters-ALL-FILED_compressed_2.pdf
The original case was Pico Neighborhood Association, et al.
v. City of Santa Monica, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No.
BC616804.
About PARRIS Law Firm
The PARRIS Law Firm is
recognized as one of America's top civil rights, personal injury,
employment, and environmental law firms. With a proven track record
of fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals, the
firm boasts numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and
settlements. To learn more about the firm, please go to:
www.parris.com.
Contact
Dante Hickles
661.949.2595
dante@parris.com
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SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm