Governor Brown’s Plea Rejected
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The Associated Press reports the Supreme Court has refused to delay a court order for California to release nearly 10,000 inmates by year’s end due to overcrowding and medical issues in state prisons.
The court voted 6-3 Friday. Brown argued the early release would jeopardize public safety.
Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas voted against the ruling saying they would have granted the state’s request.
In 2011, the court ruled 5-4 that the state must cut its inmate population to deal with unconstitutional prison conditions caused by overcrowding.
State officials argue conditions have improved dramatically since a lower court order in 2009.
