Mendly v. County of Los Angeles

I respectfully dissent.

In my opinion, what happened here is an affront to the integrity and independence of the judicial branch of government as much as it is a breach of faith with the destitute citizens who put their trust in a contract with Los Angeles County. In a single stroke, the county and state government managed to violate two fundamental constitutional provisions—separation of powers1 and the contract clause.2

To provide context for many of the issues which divide me from my colleagues in this case, I begin with a brief review of general assistance and its place within the overall…