CPC Files Amicus Brief to Defend the People’s Right to a Ballot Initiative in California

California Policy Center filed an amicus brief in Castellanos v. California, detailing the flaws in the ruling and urging the appellate court to reverse the trial court decision and restore the people’s will on Proposition 22. CPC is also launching Democracy for All, a new coalition of pro-democracy groups working to protect direct democracy and the right of California voters to a ballot initiative.

For more than a century, California’s ballot initiative process has given voters a direct say in the policies they want to improve their state. But sadly, this right is under attack by activist judges.

In Castellanos v. California, a trial court judge overturned the votes of the nearly 10 million Californians who voted to make Proposition 22 law in 2020. Proposition 22 classified app-based drivers as contractors. The popular policy was affirmed by a margin of more than 17 points. Yet a judge sided with the special interests who opposed the policy and voided the law – threatening the future of the ballot initiative process in California.

No matter how they cast their vote on Proposition 22, all Californians should be concerned by the court’s ruling to overturn the voice of the people. CPC filed its amicus brief to urge the appellate court to do what the trial court failed to do: protect democracy and the right to a ballot initiative.

To learn more about Democracy for All, visit DemocracyForAllCA.org. CPC’s amicus brief can be read in full here.