The state's civil rights commission tabled a controversial decision today about whether to fire its staff of expert attorneys and rely instead on state lawyers, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has requested.The issue had put the state's Fair Employment and Housing Commission in a tough spot: If it voted to fire its attorneys, the commission would have angered civil rights activists who say the move would undermine civil-rights protections across the state.
But retaining the attorneys would have rebuffed the governor, who had appointed five of the six commissioners. The terms of two who are seeking reappointment expire Wednesday.
So the commission exited the sticky situation - temporarily, at least - by agreeing to ask state Attorney General Jerry Brown for an opinion on whether the panel can legally drop its own lawyers.
Read More
