Could California find itself in another conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court?

Nine California Catholic dioceses and archdioceses have asked the nation鈥檚 highest court to review their case against signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which created a three-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file legal claims against alleged perpetrators at school, church or elsewhere, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. The law also allowed defendants to be sued for a new offense: 鈥渃over up鈥� activity.

In the , which was , lawyers for the Catholic bishops assert the law is unconstitutional because California already gave victims a chance to sue in 2002 鈥� when it opened a one-year portal for sex abuse survivors to file claims with no time limit attached 鈥� and because it retroactively adds new liabilities.

• The lawyers wrote: 鈥淩eview is critical now, before the Catholic Church in the largest State in the union is forced to litigate hundreds or thousands of cases seeking potentially billions of dollars in retroactive punitive damages under an unconstitutional double-revival regime.鈥�
• They added that their clients have already paid more than $1.2 billion to resolve claims filed during the original one-year window, and 鈥渢o finance these settlements, they expended significant resources, sold vast swaths of Church property, and in some cases exhausted or relinquished insurance coverage for past and future abuse claims.鈥�
• : 鈥淭he 2002 window lasted one year, barely enough time for victims to find their courage or their voices. Many only heard about the window or found their courage too late. This new three-year window is allowing survivors in a huge state the time to speak out, get help, and come forward. We believe it is that bravery that is scaring California鈥檚 Catholic bishops.鈥�

Newsom鈥檚 office declined to comment: 鈥淲e have nothing to add at this time,鈥� Daniel Lopez, Newsom鈥檚 deputy communications director, told me in an email.

But the petition, which came came less than a month before showing justices are poised to overturn the federal constitutional right to an abortion, could spark the latest standoff between California and the high court.

• The court repeatedly sided with churches over California during the pandemic,  at full capacity two weeks before other businesses.
• In December, Newsom sought to counteract the court鈥檚 decision to let stand Texas鈥� six-week abortion ban  to permit private Californians to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells assault weapons or ghost guns.
• And in response to the draft majority opinion, Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders have vowed  to enshrine abortion rights in California.

In other reproductive justice news: Attorney General Rob Bonta that Kings County District Attorney Keith Fagundes dropped criminal charges against Adora Perez, whom he had previously charged with manslaughter after . 鈥淐alifornia law is clear: We do not criminalize people for the loss of a pregnancy,鈥� Bonta said.

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