What's at stake?
The third judge swap in the case between the County of Fresno and the State of California help illustrate the the intensity both sides feel in a lawsuit that has big ramifications for local transportation agencies and what shows up on the November ballot
Fresno County’s lawsuit against the State of California gets its third judge swap ahead of Tuesday’s start date for the case that will decide whether a controversial countywide transportation tax proposal gets placed on the November ballot.
Judge Jonathan Skiles has been selected to oversee Fresno County’s Better Roads lawsuit following 10 days’ worth of judges swaps.
Judge Lisa Gamoain was the most recent of three judges that has been removed from presiding over the case, following a motion filed on Friday by the proponents of the Better Roads, Safe Streets ballot initiative — one of three listed defendants in the case.
Gamoain, alongside Judges Robert Whelan and Virna Santos, was removed following motions by sides of the lawsuit filed within the last two weeks. Both sides said that the selected judges harbored a connection to the plaintiffs and defendants that would make it impossible for them to facilitate the case in a fair and unbiased manner.
It is not immediately clear how both parties feel about Skiles, as the announcement of his appointment to the case was announced so close to the start of the trial on Tuesday.
The trial between the county and state will decide whether the Better Roads, Safe Streets tax initiative gets placed before Fresno County voters in the November general election.
