State labor board ruling on San Diego pensions overturned by appeals court

The California Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously in defense of a 2012 local ballot measure in San Diego. The measure, Proposition B, r [View this email in your browser]( [Ballotpedia]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Tap]( The week in review: April 8 - April 14 What's on tap next week: April 15 - April 21 Highlights State - Alabama Gov. [Robert Bentley]( (R) resigned on Monday, April 10, the same day that impeachment proceedings against him began and he was booked in the Montgomery County Jail on two misdemeanor charges of campaign finance violations. He resigned as part of a plea deal. The Alabama State Ethics Commission, the state [House Judiciary Committee]( and the [Alabama attorney general's office]( began investigating Bentley in 2016 due to allegations that he had misused state funds in order to conduct an affair with one of his top advisors, [Rebekah Mason](. Recordings of Bentley making sexual comments to Mason during two separate phone conversations emerged on March 23, 2016. Bentley maintained nothing illegal took place and stated he would not step down as governor. On April 6, 2017, the Ethics Commission released a finding of probable cause that Bentley had violated the state's ethics and campaign finance laws. The commission forwarded the finding to the [Montgomery County]( district attorney. - See also: [Robert Bentley ethics investigation, 2016-2017]( [Kay Ivey]( Lt. Gov. [Kay Ivey]( (R) was sworn in as Bentley’s successor. She is the second woman to hold the position of governor of Alabama. The [first]( was Lurleen Wallace (D), the wife of former Gov. George Wallace (D). She was elected in 1966 but died sixteen months later. Ivey was first elected as lieutenant governor in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. She previously served as state treasurer from 2003 to 2011. The position of lieutenant governor will [remain]( vacant until 2018 when the office is up for election. Alabama is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. Local - On Tuesday, April 11, the [California Fourth District Court of Appeal]( [ruled]( unanimously in defense of a 2012 local ballot measure in [San Diego](. The measure, [Proposition B]( replaced the city’s guaranteed pension system for new public employees with a 401(k) plan and matching contributions. This change included all new city employees except police officers. It was approved by more than 65 percent of voters. In December 2015, the California Public Employment Relations Board ruled that the measure could not be enforced because the San Diego mayor’s personal involvement in the ballot measure effort was illegal. The labor board ruling was appealed by the San Diego City Council in February 2016, which resulted in the case appearing before the state appeals court. The case may still be appealed to the state supreme court. - San Diego Mayor [Kevin Faulconer]( (R), who was re-elected in [2016]( praised the ruling and stated, “This citizens’ initiative gave City Hall new tools to bring stability to San Diego's financial problems, and this ruling means we don't have to turn back the clock on pension reform.” An official with the Municipal Employees Association, which is a plaintiff on the lawsuit, responded to the ruling by stating, "I think the California Supreme Court reviewing this is where it's headed next." San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the [eighth-largest city]( in the U.S. by population. [Kevin Faulconer]( State Politics: The Week in Review Ballot Measures Update 2017: - So far, [six statewide measures]( are certified to appear on the ballot in 2017 in [Maine]( [New York]( [New Jersey]( [Ohio]( and [West Virginia]( [citizen initiated]( measure, three [legislatively referred]( measures, and one measure [automatically referred]( to the ballot by the state constitution. Moreover, voters in Puerto Rico will decide [a referendum]( on June 11—and another in October depending on the results of the June referendum—asking whether they want statehood or independence/free association. Over the previous five odd-year election cycles, an average of about seven citizen-initiated measures and 34 total statewide measures have appeared on ballots. - [One new measure]( was certified for the 2017 ballot last week. - The next [signature filing deadline]( for citizen initiatives in 2017 is in [Ohio]( on July 5. - By [this time in 2013]( one measure had been certified for the 2013 ballot; by [this time in 2015]( five measures had been certified for the 2015 ballot. 2018: - [Eighteen measures]( are certified to appear on statewide ballots in [2018]( so far—five [citizen initiated]( measures, 12 [legislatively referred]( measures, and one measure [automatically referred]( to the ballot by the state constitution. Over the previous five even-year election cycles, an average of 61 citizen-initiated measures and 173 total statewide measures have appeared on ballots. - [One new measure]( was certified for 2018 ballots last week. - By [this time in 2013]( 15 measures had been certified for the [2014 ballot]( by [this time in 2015]( 18 measures had been certified for the [2016 ballot](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, April 8 West Virginia Transportation Bonds Certified For The Ballot - [The West Virginia State Legislature]( gave the final approval required to put a [$1.6 billion bond issue proposal]( Joint Resolution 6—before voters in 2017. The bond revenue would be used to fund highway, road, and bridge construction and improvements. The measure requires the governor to set a special election date in 2017 for a public vote on the [constitutional amendment](. After the two chambers of the legislature traded amendments to the bill relating to separate transportation tax provisions, concurrence was reached the day before the legislature was set to adjourn, and both chambers passed the resolution by more than the two-thirds supermajority required. - West Virginia is one 19 states under [divided government](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, April 10 Federal judge rules that Texas voter ID law was enacted with racially discriminatory intent - Judge [Nelva Gonzales Ramos]( of [the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas]( [ruled]( that [Texas' voter ID law]( was enacted with racially discriminatory intent, violating Section 2 of the [Voting Rights Act](. According to The New York Times, "lawyers involved in the case said the ruling effectively strikes down the law, although the judge did not issue a separate order doing so." Marc Rylander, a spokesman for Texas attorney general [Ken Paxton]( said, "We're disappointed and will seek review of this ruling at the appropriate time." Ramos' ruling came in the wake of a 2016 ruling by the [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit]( which found that Texas' voter ID law had a discriminatory impact on minority voters who sometimes lack the required forms of identification. At that time, the Fifth Circuit remanded the question of discriminatory intent to the federal district court. Texas' voter ID law, also known as SB 14, has been the subject on ongoing litigation since it was adopted in 2011. - As of April 10, 2017, 32 states enforced [voter ID requirements](. - In 15 of these states, voters were required to present photo identification. In 17 states, others form of identification were permitted. New York Raises Age of Criminal Responsibility - After passage by the legislature over the weekend, Gov. [Andrew Cuomo]( (D) signed [legislation]( raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York from 16 to 18 years old. Under the new law, 16- and 17-year-olds will be tried in Family Court and, beginning on October 1, 2018, held in juvenile detention facilities instead of county jails or Rikers Island. According to [The New York Times]( New York sees more than 20,000 juvenile chargers per year. Prior to Cuomo’s signing of the law, New York was one of two states that prosecuted and incarcerated 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. The other is North Carolina. The legislation was passed as part of the [state budget](. New York is one 19 states under [divided government](.    Lawsuit Filed Against Missouri Right To Work Veto Referendum Effort - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on a lawsuit filed against the [veto referendum effort]( targeting the right to work legislation approved in February 2017. Senate Bill 19—which goes into effect on August 28, 2017, if opponents do not succeed in their referendum effort—mandated that no person can be required to join a labor union or pay dues to a labor union as a condition of employment. The veto referendum petition was filed by [Missouri AFL-CIO]( president [Mike Louis]( and [Missouri NAACP]( president Rod Chapel and the petition was cleared for circulation on March 28, 2017. The lawsuit contends that the ballot summary provided by Missouri Secretary of State [John R. Ashcroft]( was unfair and could be misleading because of the way it was written. The lawsuit requests that the summary, which would be included on petition sheets during signature gathering, be replaced. - Certifying a [veto referendum]( for the ballot requires a number of signatures equivalent to five percent of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election in six of the state’s eight congressional districts. This means that the minimum possible number of valid signatures required is 100,126. Signatures for a veto referendum petition must be turned in within 90 days following the adjournment of the legislative session in which the law was passed. Since the Missouri legislative session is required to end on May 30, 2017, supporters of the initiative have until August 28, 2017, to collect the signatures for the referendum. If enough signatures are collected by August 28, then the law would be suspended until voters decide the issue at the [November 2018]( election. - Veto referendums appeared on the ballot six times between 1924 and 2016, with the most recent one on the ballot in [1982](. Maryland Legislature Passes Drug Pricing Legislation - Lawmakers in Maryland passed [legislation]( giving the [state attorney general]( the authority to sue generic drug manufacturing companies that significantly increase the prices of their products. The bill allows the attorney general to request information from manufacturers who increase prices and to seek legal action if deemed necessary. A price increase ruled to be an “unconscionable increase,” according to the bill’s language, could come with fines up to $10,000.  The [National Conference of State Legislatures]( has [described]( the legislation as the first of its kind in the nation. The [Senate]( voted [38-7]( in favor of the bill, while the [House]( voted [137-2](. The bill heads to the desk of Gov. [Larry Hogan]( (R).  Maryland is one 19 states under [divided government](.   [VoteSpotter]( - Discover how your legislators voted on key bills - Connect directly with them and share your view [Click here to learn more and hold your elected officials accountable.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, April 11 North Carolina Legislature Seeks to Reduce Size of State Appeals Court - Lawmakers in North Carolina [sent]( a bill to the desk of Gov. [Roy Cooper]( (D) proposing to reduce the number of judges on the state [Court of Appeals]( from 15 to 12 and to allow more cases to be appealed to the state [Supreme Court](. The legislation would require the next three vacancies on the court to go unfilled. Judges on the court are elected to eight-year terms but must retire at the age of 72. Judge [Doug McCullough]( a registered Republican who was last elected in 2010, plans to retire in May 2017, giving Cooper an opportunity to appoint his successor.  The bill passed along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of the bill [71-42]( in the [House]( and [30-13]( in the [Senate](. Opponents of the legislation argue that the bill seeks to prevent Cooper from filling vacancies on the court. Supporters say that the bill is in response to a decreased workload on the Court of Appeals. If Cooper vetoes the bill, Republicans would need a [three-fifths majority]( in both chambers (72 in the House and 30 in the Senate). Republicans have a 74-46 majority in the House and a 35-15 majority in the Senate. North Carolina is one 19 states under [divided government](. - Last month, North Carolina lawmakers voted to override Cooper’s veto of a bill making Superior Court and District Court judicial elections partisan. The state had been using nonpartisan elections for those positions since 1990s, though judges had previously ran with party labels in partisan primaries. North Carolina Legislature Changes Procedures For Appointing Election Boards - Also on Tuesday, legislators in North Carolina, voting along party lines, [passed]( [legislation]( changing the appointment procedures for members of the state election board. Under current law, the state election board—which is responsible for settling election-related disputes and enforcing state election law—has five members, all appointed by the governor. Historically, the board’s majority has consisted of three members of the governor’s party. The new legislation proposes to expand the board to eight members—four Democrats and four Republicans—and to allow the governor to make appointments based on lists submitted by Democratic and Republican state party chairs. In addition, the legislation requires that a Republican would chair the board in years with presidential and gubernatorial elections, while a Democrat would hold the chair position during midterm elections. The bill also expands the size of county election boards from three to four, with membership to be split evenly between the two parties. The state board appoints members of the county boards. Gov. [Cooper]( (D) has said he will veto the legislation. - Another bill seeking to make changes to appointment procedures for members of the state election board passed the legislature in December 2016. A three-judge panel in North Carolina [ruled]( that the bill was unconstitutional. Special Primary Elections in the South Carolina Legislature - [Special primary elections]( took place in the South Carolina [House]( and [Senate](. The [State Senate District 3]( seat became vacant after [Kevin Bryant]( (R) became lieutenant governor. Eight Republicans and zero Democrats filed for the seat. [Carol Burdette]( and [Richard Cash]( advanced to a primary runoff election scheduled for April 25, 2017. The [House District 84]( seat became vacant after [Chris Corley]( resigned in January, following an indictment for criminal domestic violence and weapons charges. One Democrat, two Republicans, and one Constitution Party candidate filed for the seat. [Jeff Waters]( advanced past [Ronnie Young]( in the Republican primary. The special election for both seats is scheduled for May 30. Republicans have a 78-43 majority in the House and a 27-18 majority in the Senate. South Carolina is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, April 12 New York Becomes First State To Offer Free Four-Year College - Gov. [Andrew Cuomo]( (D) signed [legislation]( allowing residents of New York to attend public community and four-year colleges in the state tuition-free. Residents from households with annual incomes up to $100,000 wishing to attend college full-time will be eligible for the program in 2017. The annual household income cap will increase to $125,000 by 2019. Participants in the program will be required to live and work in the state after graduation for as many years as they received aid. Participants who leave the state after graduation will have to pay back their grants. Cuomo’s office has [estimated]( that the program would cost $163 million in its first year.  The states of Tennessee and Oregon and the city of [San Francisco]( have recently begun allowing residents to attend community colleges tuition-free. New York is one 19 states under [divided government](. Iowa State Senate Passes Legislation Banning Sanctuary Jurisdictions - The [Iowa State Senate]( voted [32-15]( to bar local governments from receiving state funds if they pass sanctuary jurisdiction policies. In general, the term [sanctuary jurisdiction]( may refer to a city, county, or state that has enacted policies which limit the involvement of local officials in the enforcement of federal immigration law. The legislation requires Iowa law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration law. Supporting the bill were 28 Republicans and four Democrats. As of 2014, an estimated 40,000 immigrants were living in Iowa without legal authorization. Iowa is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. - Similar [legislation]( has been moving through the [Texas State Legislature](. The Texas bill makes failure to comply with federal immigration policy a Class A misdemeanor for sheriffs, constables, and police chiefs. A house committee approved the bill 7-5 on Wednesday, and the [Senate]( approved the bill [20-11]( in February. - Last week, the [California State Senate]( approved a bill that would [prohibit]( California law enforcement agencies from using state and local resources for the purposes of reporting, arresting, investigating, or detaining individuals in compliance with federal immigration laws.  - On January 25, 2017, President Trump (R) signed an [executive order]( giving the departments of [Justice]( and [Homeland Security]( the authority to withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that enact or enforce policies similar to those proposed under SB 54. - See also: [Sanctuary jurisdictions]( Michigan Senator Indicted - A federal grand jury indicted [Bert Johnson]( a Democrat representing [District 2]( in the [Michigan State Senate]( on [two counts]( including conspiracy to commit theft and committing theft of state money. According to the indictment, Johnson hired a ghost employee, or someone who is hired not to work, to his senate payroll to repay a loan. If convicted, Johnson could serve up to five years on the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years on the theft charge. Republicans have a 27-11 majority in the state senate. Michigan is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, April 13 [Montana Ballot Collection Measure Certified]( - The [Montana state House]( voted 51-49 in favor of putting [a statute]( before voters in [November 2018]( that would ban the collection of the election ballots of other people, with exceptions for relatives, caregivers, postal service employees, and friends. Violators would face a fine of $500 for each ballot collected. The law was designed to make “unsolicited ballot collection” illegal, according to its sponsor, [Sen. Albert Olszewski]( (R-6). In the House, 50 Republicans voted yes and nine voted no. One Democrat voted yes and the other 40 voted no. In Montana, a simple majority is required in both chambers of the [state legislature]( to place a [legislatively referred state statute]( on the ballot. The [state Senate]( voted 30-19 to approve the statute on March 30, 2017. - Montana is one 19 states under [divided government](. - The [9th Circuit Court of Appeals]( has jurisdiction over nine western states including Montana—is scheduled to hear [a case]( regarding the constitutionality of banning ballot collection in June 2017. The case [originated]( in Arizona. - This is the second measure certified for the [2018 ballot in Montana]( so far. [The other]( would authorize a property tax to fund the state’s university system. - From 1996 through 2016, Montana voters have decided eight [legislatively referred state statutes]( approving seven of them. Maine Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Ranked-Choice Voting - The [state’s highest court]( heard arguments from both supporters and opponents of [Question 5]( the first-of-its-kind initiative approved in [November 2016]( to establish a [ranked-choice voting]( (RCV) system to elect [U.S. senators]( [U.S. representatives]( the [governor]( [state senators]( and [state representatives](. The case was initiated by the legislature, which asked the court for an advisory ruling on the constitutionality of the initiative before moving forward with implementing it. Specifically, the court considered arguments about whether the initiative violated the state constitution’s provision mandating that elections are won by "a plurality of all votes returned," rather than a simple majority as required by ranked-choice voting, and how exactly the initiative would be implemented with regard to local ballot tabulation. The effect of the measure on the two-party system was also addressed. Although the court has no deadline for this type of advisory ruling, the state legislature is set to adjourn on June 21, so a decision is expected long enough before that date to allow action by the legislature. - The initiative was [approved]( by a margin of 2.12 percent. - State officials [estimated]( the cost of implementation for the first election cycle at about $1.5 million. - Several cities and towns have already adopted RCV for municipal elections in states such as [California]( [Colorado]( [Maryland]( [Minnesota]( and [New Mexico](. Voters in [Portland, Maine]( approved RCV for mayoral elections in 2011. - No state currently uses RCV for statewide elections. Arizona Lawmakers Approve Another Bill To Restrict Initiatives - The [Arizona state House]( approved House Bill 2244 which would require strict compliance with all [laws governing initiative petitions](. This means that initiatives could fail to qualify for the ballot or be removed from the ballot because of technical errors on the petition sheets. The bill was approved by the [state Senate]( on April 12 and now needs the governor’s signature to be enacted. Both [Republican-controlled]( chambers passed the bill along party lines. Prior to HB 2244, substantial compliance with initiative petition rules was enough to qualify an initiative for the ballot, according to multiple Arizona Supreme Court decisions. [Rep. Ken Clark]( (D-24), an opponent of the bill, said that HB 2244 in combination with the [other initiative restrictions]( passed this year would “effectively shut down the initiative process for all but those, the richest interests, inside and out of the state.” [House Speaker J.D. Mesnard]( (R-17) said the changes are necessary to ensure the integrity of elections and protect against fraud. - This bill is one of at least [nine different legislative proposals]( introduced in 2017 to enact restrictions on the initiative process. [One]( bill to ban pay-per-signature—already passed and was signed into law. [Another]( bill to fine petition sponsors $1,000 for each incident of fraud or forgery perpetrated by paid signature gatherers—passed the House on April 13 and awaits a Senate vote. - In 2016, Arizona voters approved an initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage, which was opposed by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. The chamber lobbied in favor of the initiative restrictions considered in the legislature this year. - [Initiative restrictions]( were considered or are being considered this year by the legislatures of [several other states]( where initiatives concerning issues such as minimum wage, marijuana legalization, campaign finance and elections, tax increases, and law enforcement were approved in 2016. - Arizona is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. U.S. Department Of Justice Disapproves Of Puerto Rico’s Status Referendum - The ballot language for the [referendum]( asking [Puerto Rico]( voters if they prefer statehood or free association/independence may be changing based on criticisms from the [U.S. Deputy Attorney General](. Gov. Rosselló, a member of the [pro-statehood New Progressive Party]( received a letter from Dana Boente, the acting Deputy Attorney General of the [U.S. Department of Justice]( expressing disapproval of the referendum scheduled for June 11, 2017. Boente said, “The Department [of Justice] has determined that multiple considerations preclude it from notifying Congress that it approves of the plebiscite ballot [referendum] and obligating the funds.” Boente was referring to the $2.5 million authorized by Congress in 2014 to fund “objective, nonpartisan voter education about, and a plebiscite on, options that would resolve Puerto Rico’s future political status.” One of the factors that Boente criticized is that the referendum ballot question does not include the option of voting for the status quo; Puerto Rico is currently classified as a U.S. territory and commonly referred to as a commonwealth. Gov. Rosselló responded (translated from Spanish), “Even though it is worthless that we offer Puerto Ricans the option of the colony to resolve the serious problems we are facing, the opportunity to have a plebiscite endorsed by the federal government is a step forward that will benefit of the people of Puerto Rico.” --------------------------------------------------------------- Special Elections As of this week, [14 state legislative seats]( have been filled through special elections in 2017. Another 32 elections have been scheduled in 17 states to fill vacancies. Due to redistricting, additional [state legislative special elections]( may be held in North Carolina in 2017. The special elections have been called in response to a federal court order that ruled 28 state legislative districts unconstitutional because of racial gerrymandering. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, issued an [order]( on January 10, 2017, halting the 2017 special elections in North Carolina. The change would move elections under new maps to the regularly scheduled 2018 elections. The court is expected to decide whether to take up an appeal of this order. - An average of 89 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past three odd years ([2011]( 94, [2013]( 84, [2015]( 88). - An average of 44 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past four even years ([2010]( 26, [2012]( 45, [2014]( 40, [2016]( 65). Upcoming special elections include: April 18, 2017 - [Alabama House of Representatives District 67]( - [Georgia State Senate District 32]( April 25, 2017 - [Connecticut House of Representatives District 7]( - [Connecticut House of Representatives District 68]( --------------------------------------------------------------- State Politics: What's On Tap Next Week Tuesday, April 18 Special Election In The Georgia State Senate - A [special election]( for [District 32]( of the [Georgia State Senate]( has been called for April 18, 2017. The state scheduled a runoff election, if needed, for May 16, 2017. The seat became vacant following Republican [Judson Hill's]( decision to run in a special election for [Georgia's 6th Congressional District](. That seat became vacant following Republican [Tom Price's]( confirmation as [U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services](. Five Republicans and three Democrats filed for the District 32 seat. Republicans have a 37-18 majority in the state senate, and Georgia is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](. The election takes place the same day as [a special election for Georgia’s 6th congressional district](. - See also: [Georgia state legislative special elections, 2017]( Special Election In The Alabama House of Representatives - A [special election]( for the position of [Alabama House of Representatives]( District 67 has been called for April 18, 2017. A special primary election was held on January 31, 2017. The seat became vacant following [Darrio Melton]( (D) election as mayor of Selma on October 4, 2016. In the primary, [Prince Chestnut]( (D) advanced past three other Democrats who filed for the seat. No Republicans filed. Chestnut would have been declared the winner outright after the primary election but a third party candidate successfully filed for the seat on January 31. Chestnut will face independent candidate [Toby Gordon]( in the special election. Republicans have a 72-32 majority in the House, and Alabama is one of 25 Republican [state government trifectas](.  - See also: [Alabama state legislative special elections, 2017]( [States in session] [Map of state government trifectas] Local Politics: The Week in Review Elections Update - In 2017, Ballotpedia is covering [municipal elections]( across 54 of America's 100 [largest cities]( by population and several of the [largest counties]( by population, [local judicial elections]( across six states holding elections for general and limited jurisdiction trial courts and one state holding elections for municipal jurisdiction trial courts, [school board elections]( across 461 of the 1,000 largest school districts by student enrollment, all [local recalls]( all [local ballot measures]( in California, and notable local ballot measures across the United States. - So far this year, Ballotpedia has covered 12 city elections, three county elections, and 78 school board elections. Ballotpedia will cover between 100 and 200 local ballot measures in California in 2017. - Local ballot measure elections occurred in California on [January 10]( [February 28]( [March 7]( [March 28]( [April 4]( and [April 11](. On March 7, local voters decided 22 measures; 14 measures were approved, seven were defeated, and one is too close to call with certainty until results are certified. Los Angeles city voters decided four measures, including [Measure S]( a development-related initiative. Measure S was defeated. - The next local ballot measure elections Ballotpedia will cover are on [April 25]( in California, [May 2]( in California, and [May 6]( in Texas. --------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, April 10 Resignation forces El Paso special election - In Texas, the [El Paso]( city government [determined]( that it would hold a [special election]( to fill the District 8 seat on the city council. Its previous occupant, Cortney Niland, announced her resignation on April 4 due to family issues. The nonpartisan special election will be held on June 10. That would also be the runoff election date for the city’s regular election for mayor and city council in the event that the winners are not determined on May 6 in the general election. The city council seats in Districts 2, 3, 4, and 7 are up for election, and 12 candidates filed for the mayoral election after incumbent Oscar Leeser opted not to run for re-election. El Paso is the sixth-largest city in Texas and the [19th-largest city]( in the U.S. by population. --------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, April 11 Federal judge orders May trial start for Philly DA - U.S. District Judge [Paul Diamond]( issued an order [setting]( the trial date for [Philadelphia]( District Attorney Seth Williams (D) for May 31, 2017. Diamond, who serves on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, wrote in the order, “I am hard-pressed to think of a case where the public’s right to a speedy trial is more pressing than it is here. [...] The largest prosecutor's office in the commonwealth is being run by someone who is not licensed to practice law and is himself charged with 23 federal crimes.” Williams’ law license was [suspended]( by an order of the state supreme court on the same day as