Judge who ruled in favor of AG Bonta's transgender ballot language also assigned to Elk Grove's Oak Rose case
Yesterday, a significant legal development unfolded in Sacramento as a Superior Court judge upheld the language on a proposed ballot measure. The measure, initially titled the "Protect Kids of California Act," was deemed misleading and subsequently modified by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
After Bonta changed the title to "Restrict Rights of Transgender Youth," the measure supporters cried foul, saying the new title was prejudicial, and sought a judicial ruling restoring the ballot to its original title. Judge Stephen Acquisto ruled on the request.
Yesterday, Acquisto delivered a ruling in favor of Bonta, deeming his title a fair description of the measure. This decision has significant implications, as the measure is still in the process of gathering signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
Regarding the city of Elk Grove, Judge Acquisto is also assigned to the lawsuits filed by the developers of the Oak Rose supportive housing project and the attorney general over the rejection of the Old Town special planning area project.
In December, Acquito presided over a hearing where the Oak Rose developer sought to amend their complaint by adding unflattering comments made in council meetings by Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her city council following their July 2022 project rejection. After hearing the city of Elk Grove's arguments, he scolded their attorney and characterized their objection to the amended lawsuit as a waste of the court's time.
Acquisto was appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013. In his legal career, which started in 1995, Acquisto spent 10 years at the attorney general's office (2001 - 2011), working on prisoner civil rights cases.
Before being appointed to the bench, Acquisto served Brown as chief deputy legal secretary, where he worked on prison overcrowding. Last year, Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho initiated a so-called "blanket paper" against Acquisto, barring him from presiding over criminal cases, claiming the judge is prejudicial against prosecutors.
Given his background, his ruling on the ballot measure, and his comments during the December Oak Rose project hearing, if Bonta is unable to force the city into a settlement with the state (beyond the city's $10 million giveaway) and continues his pursuit of the fair housing lawsuit, ruling before this goes to trial are unlikely to be sympathetic to the city.
The Oak Rose and transgender ballots are unrelated but share a common thread - Rob Bonta. Acquisto is on the same side of issues as the attorney general, which is unfavorable to the city.
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