SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A judge ruled Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had abused his discretion in ordering furloughs of state workers, dealing a blow to efforts to cope with the fiscal crisis.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch said the administration must halt furloughs for workers represented by three unions, including 95,000 employees in Service Employees International Union Local 1000.
Roesch said the administration could not take the action against employees in agencies that receive money from sources other than the state general fund. He also said the governor can overstep the Legislature’s normal authority in an emergency only for a temporary period, which the judge said ended once the legislature passed a state budget.
