LOS ANGELES—A judge issued a preliminary injunction Aug. 22 that continues to bar Herb Wesson from performing any official Los Angeles City Council duties in place of suspended Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff had issued a tentative ruling on Aug. 17 stating that he was inclined to issue the injunction, but after hearing arguments the same day he took the matter under submission before issuing a 10-page ruling Monday.
A nonjury trial of the case remains scheduled for Oct. 19.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California has challenged the legality of Wesson’s appointment as a temporary replacement for Ridley-Thomas, saying he is termed out due to his previous time on the council. Wesson represented the 10th District from 2005 through 2020, serving as council president from 2012 to 2020. The group also challenged the legality of the council’s suspension of Ridley-Thomas, but the judge said he concluded the council did have such authority….