Eastman suffers setback in California attorney general bid

Former Chapman University Law School Dean John Eastman has suffered a setback in his bid for the Republican nomination for State Attorney General.

Eastman had wanted the secretary of state to list him as an assistant attorney general on the June primary ballot. He wears that title in his capacity representing South Dakota on a state's rights case.

But a judge ruled that the designation would mislead voters who might think Eastman’s an assistant attorney general in California.

Appearing on the ballot for attorney general as an assistant attorney general when he's running for attorney general would have been an advantage for Eastman, who has little statewide name recognition.

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Eastman's competing for the nomination against two better known candidates: Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley and State Senator Tom Harman of Orange County.

Eastman also lost his bid to appear on the ballot as a taxpayer advocate.

Instead it’ll identify him as a constitutional law attorney. A spokesman for Eastman called it an “extremely strong” ballot designation, even if it wasn’t his first — or second — choice.