Some of you may remember Limbo Rock by Chubby Checker in 1962. It’s chorus went like this:
Limbo lower now
Limbo lower now
How low can you go?
I was reminded of this song as the California Supreme Court (CSC) reached the bottom of the barrel this past week when on 12/28/20 it decided that “non-violent” sex offenders may be eligible for the early parole. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, who championed the 2014 initiative (Proposition 57) as a way to reduce prison populations and costs by speeding up chances for parole, has repeatedly said he and other proponents never intended for it to cover sex offenders.
However, the CSC and its Chief Justice said otherwise.
“How low can you go?”
“The initiative’s language provides no indication that the voters intended to allow the (Corrections) Department to create a wholesale exclusion from parole consideration based on an inimate’s sex offense convictions when the inmate was convicted of a nonviolent felony,” wrote Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye in the unanimous decision.
So, is Proposition 57 and the ruling by CSC just another example of:
-another poorly written initiative . . . written by Democrats
-the far left nature of the California Supreme Court,
-the dumbness of California voters who voted to retain Justice Sakauye in 2010 and voted ‘yes’ on 57 many years ago.
I believe that this most recent decision is probably an example of all three.
Because I did not really know anything about Chief Justice Sakauye, I was hesitant to throw stones specifically at her . . . until this morning when I read about her request that “court employees and judicial officers be included as a priority in the plan” of vaccine priority. Actually although just about everyone is championing to get their particular group moved up on the vaccine priority list, her three page letter to Gov. Newsom included parts that complimented him on his leadership over the past tumultuous year.
Yes, you heard that right . . . the same Chief Justice who thought that some sexual deviants should be eligible for early parole was in my way of thinking, sucking up to Newsom by complimenting him on a job well done!
A job well done!!??
I would ask Justice Sakauye, “How low can you go?”
Gee, I wonder if she has signed the Newsom recall petition yet?