4,642,292 / 72.8% Yes votes ...... 1,735,074 / 27.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

The California Constitution would be amended to remove obsolete references to the municipal courts, and to make conforming changes relating to the membership of the California Judicial Council and the membership of the Commission on Judicial Performance.

A NO vote of this measure means:

The California Constitution would not be amended to remove obsolete references to the municipal courts, and would not be amended to make conforming changes to the membership of the California Judicial Council and the membership of the Commission on Judicial Performance.

• Full Text
• Impartial Analysis from the Legislative Analyst

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 48:

Four years ago the voters authorized the elimination of municipal courts. Municipal courts no longer exist. Their function has been merged into the superior court, for an estimated annual savings of $23,000,000. Proposition 48 cleans up the California Constitution by eliminating obsolete references to the former municipal courts.

Full Text of Argument In Favor, Rebuttal

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 48:

Proposition 48 would unwisely prohibit the re-establishment of "municipal courts" in any of California's 58 counties. The elimination of municipal courts in favor of a single "superior court" in each county has created at least the appearance of unfairness and has made local courts more insular and less accountable.

Full Text of Argument Against, Rebuttal

Contact FOR Proposition 48:

Nathaniel Sterling
California Law Revision Commission
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650-494-1335
sterling@clrc.ca.gov
http://www.clrc.ca.gov

Contact AGAINST Proposition 48:

Gary B. Wesley
Voter Information Alliance (VIA)
P.O. Box 90151
San Jose, CA 95109
408-882-5070 http://www.VoterInformationAlliance.org

Secretary of State

• Voter Information Guide for Proposition 48
• Cal-Access Campaign Finance Information

• Detailed analysis

League of Women Voters - Analysis

• Easy Reading Voter Guide for Proposition 48
• Easy Reading Voter Guide - Download the guide in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Russian
• Pros & Cons of Proposition 48
• Pros & Cons of Proposition 48 (Spanish) - in PDF
• In Depth Analysis of Proposition 48 - for those who want more

• Background Information on Ballot Measures - Learn about California Law-Making and Your Vote
• Criteria for Evaluating Ballot Propositions

• Top Ten Contributors - who gave the most to each side of this measure?
• Summary of Proposition 48 - includes links to some news articles

LWV Pros & Cons Public Meetings

• Come to a meeting in your community where League experts discuss all state ballot propositions giving a nonpartisan analysis. Consult your Smart Voter county page for dates, times and locations.