Appeals Courts OKs Schwarzenegger Contempt Hearing

[Kadie]

Mar 25, 2009 10:28 am US/Pacific

Appeals Courts OKs Schwarzenegger Contempt Hearing

SACRAMENTO (AP) ―

A federal appeals court says a judge can proceed with hearings to determine whether Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can be held in contempt for refusing to pay for improved inmate health care.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected an appeal from the administration that attempted to block U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson's hearing.

Schwarzenegger is refusing to turn over $250 million as a down payment sought by a federal court-appointed receiver. The receiver, J. Clark Kelso, wants up to $8 billion to build medical centers for physically and mentally ill inmates.

The appeals court decided the case on procedural grounds. It did not weigh in on the larger question of how far the federal government can intrude on states' control of their prisons.

http://cbs13.com/local/schwarzenegger.contempt.hearing.2.967568.html