The state Supreme Court has ruled that the California Coastal Commission is lawful, and that its previous decisions should stand. The Commission was challenged in court by those who wished to end the group’s excellent work to protect our coast and who claimed that the method of appointing commissioners was unconstitutional.

The ruling, which was unanimous, says that the Commission’s appointment process doesn’t violate the “separation of powers doctrine.”

For more info, read the story in today’s SF Chronicle.

Our almost-off-the-press Summer 2005 Green Footnotes newsletter includes a couple of articles describing how the Coastal Commission works and underscoring the importance of ethics among Commissioners.

If you’re not on the CGF mailing list and would like a copy, let us know. The articles will be posted to our website within the next week or so.

– Kathy