Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday asked a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court to excuse California from orders by a three-judge panel to reduce prison crowding by releasing 9,600 inmates.
The state argued that it needs time to appeal federal crowding orders and that to obey the orders would free thousands of inmates, "including violent and serious offenders," according to the court filing.
It was filed with Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy as the circuit justice.
"We are confident that if the U.S. Supreme Court takes a look at the dramatic improvements in California's prison system, the justices will find we are providing constitutional care," said Deborah Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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