Aid-In-Dying Law No Longer In Effect After Judge Formally Deems Legislation Unconstitutional
The judge had previously granted California Attorney General Xavier Becerra more time to make his case, but last week he made his decision against the legislation formal. “It is a bit of a mess,” said Kathryn Tucker, an attorney who heads the End of Life Liberty Project.
Los Angeles Times:
California's Physician-Assisted Suicide Law Is Overturned — For Now
Nearly two years after it was enacted, California’s physician-assisted suicide law is, at least for the moment, no longer in effect. A Riverside County judge who ruled against the law last week issued a formal judgment Friday deeming it unconstitutional. Legal experts said that meant the law had been overturned. (Karlamangla, 5/25)
Orange County Register:
Riverside Judge Strikes Down California’s Right-To-Die Law
The law’s existence became jeopardized on May 15 when Judge Daniel A. Ottolia issued a ruling invalidating it, saying the legislature violated the state’s constitution by passing the right-to-die law during a special session that was limited to health care issues. Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday, May 21 filed an emergency request with the state court of appeals to reverse the judge’s ruling and sought a stay order that would keep the law in effect. The appellate court denied the stay order and gave the plaintiffs 25 days to explain why the appellate court should not overturn the ruling. However, on Friday, Ottiola issue a final judgment Friday in favor of the plaintiffs, essentially giving effect to the ruling he made last week and invalidating the existing assisted death law. (Bharath, 5/25)
San Jose Mercury News:
Right To Die: Judgment Interrupts Access To Life-Ending Drug
Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, who sponsored the original legislation, said “I am disappointed and outraged with today’s interpretation of the Riverside Court’s ruling to invalidate the End of Life Option Act while an appeal is pending.” “I fear for the terminally ill patients, their physicians, hospice centers, and families who will be further burdened as they face already challenging end of life care decisions,” he said. (Krieger, 5/25)