Thread by @meghanncuniff

I’m catching up on @MayorofLA @ericgarcetti's answer to @reporterclaudia's question re: Judge Carter, and Garcetti says something at the veeeeery end of his answer that's quite 👀 opening. A thread! (1/11)

On whether Carter is looking to take over, Garcetti tells @ReporterClaudia: "The court doesn't have the jurisdiction to do that at this point; in fact the case hasn't even begun."
Uh, say what now? 🤔 (2/11)

Contrary to what @MayorofLA said, the case has, in fact, begun. It began in March 2020. But as the rest of his comment indicates, what Garcetti probably actually meant is there is no consent decree or settlement in place giving Carter control of homeless services in LA. (3/11)

So is this the city's version of a legal brief? Because this is EXACTLY the issue Carter ordered lawyers to brief by the 16th. Should the judge cancel the briefings because Garcetti already figured out the answer? (4/11)

Probably not, because as Carter's order from Sunday states, what about Brown v. Board of Education? Look what U.S. District Judge Frank Johnson Jr. did in Alabama in wake of that ruling. nyti.ms/3cG8t8K (5/11)

With all the attention Carter's Sunday order got (an @AP story went everywhere) and its invitation for third-party briefing, I expect many briefs on this quite fascinating issue. But on the surface, it doesn't take a Harvard law degree to tell what prompted this. (6/11)

Carter ran into bureaucratic pushback while helping @goskidrowgo, @mean2greenstrz etc. get tents up for homeless women last week. He and @kdeleon ended up getting a few women into hotel rooms themselves. Then comes the order, and it doesn’t just cite Brown v. Board. (7/11)

Carter’s more focused on Brown v. Plata from 2011, which affirmed a trial court order to reduce California’s prison population and pretty clearly contradicts Garcetti's idea that there's no jurisdiction for Carter here unless there's a settlement. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._… (8/11)

As I said, lawyers across the country are watching this. And it isn't just your expected liberal groups. Conservative commentator and lawyer @HughHewitt, who actually goes way back with Carter, has taken an interest and alerted other groups who might want to weigh in. (9/11)

I'm also hearing the already-involved groups could be enlisting some major BigLaw heavyweights. So stay tuned for these briefs! Meanwhile, tomorrow's hearing at the Downtown Women's Center is of course still on, and Councilman @mikebonin is now pushing a consent decree. (10/11)

I earlier today tweeted Carter's new order with nine questions for tomorrow. I'll be covering the hearing, so you can follow along here. In the meantime, good night! 💤 (11/11)