Court upholds California governor’s use of emergency powers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A California appeals court has upheld Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic.

In their ruling Wednesday, three judges from the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento overturned a lower court that has said Newsom overstepped his authority.

The case resulted from a lawsuit brought by two Republican state legislators. Assemblymen James Gallagher and Kevin Kiley said Newsom issued dozens of emergency orders in what amounted to one-man rule. Indeed, Newsom did everything from halt evictions to allow marriages to be conducted by video or teleconference.

The appeals court agreed that the governor acted within the broad emergency authority granted him in times of crisis. Kiley and Gallagher said they would appeal to the state Supreme Court.