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The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California is appealing a judge’s decision to reinstate former Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb Wesson to the L.A. City Council.
Yesterday, a judge cleared the way for Wesson to temporarily fill the seat of Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended after being indicted on federal corruption charges and has since pleaded not guilty.
The SCLC sued the city, arguing that Wesson cannot return to the council because he's "termed out."
Wesson was sworn in last month, but the judge issued a temporary order blocking him from taking the seat until she could consider arguments in the case.
An attorney for the SCLC said they're not giving up the legal battle.
"We're hoping that the Attorney General moves very quickly and gets us standing so that we can go back into court and so Judge Strobel can hear this in the Superior Court," said John Sweeney.
Sweeney said that the judge is requiring the group to seek permission from California Attorney General Rob Bonta for the lawsuit to continue, because the case questions the legality of a public official’s appointment.
The Attorney General’s office said in a statement that they have not received an application yet from the group.
