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Council says city attorney should press Supreme Court case in Huntington Beach v. Newsom
Summary
In closed session the Huntington Beach City Council unanimously directed the city attorney to file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case captioned Huntington Beach v. Newsom; the city attorney announced the direction at the May 6 meeting.
Huntington Beach, Calif. — The City Council disclosed May 6 that, following closed-session discussion, it unanimously instructed the city attorney to file a petition to the United States Supreme Court in the litigation captioned Huntington Beach v. Newsom, case number 23-CV-00421-FWS.
City Attorney Mike Viglioda announced at the open session that the council had unanimously directed filing of the petition. The council did not discuss the legal arguments in open session; the announcement was limited to the procedural direction resulting from the closed session.
The case name was reported on the dais as Huntington Beach versus Newsom, 23‑CV‑00421‑FWS. The city attorney did not provide additional details about timing, legal grounds or next steps during the public portion of the meeting.
Why it matters: Filing a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court is a high‑stakes legal step. If the city files and the Supreme Court agrees to hear the petition, the proceeding could result in a final, nationwide resolution of the legal issues presented. The city’s unanimous direction indicates the council authorized pursuit of further appellate review.
What the council did: The council’s direction was an outcome of closed-session labor or litigation deliberations; at open session the city attorney reported only that the council unanimously directed filing the petition. No vote in open session is required to instruct the city attorney; the city attorney’s announcement serves as the public record of the closed-session action.
What’s next: The city attorney’s office will prepare the petition and any related filings. The council did not announce a timeline or identify the specific issues the petition would raise. The Supreme Court’s decision whether to accept a petition is discretionary.
