Federal judge refuses to delay ruling on census citizenship question

A federal district judge in California denied the government’s request for the court to delay its ruling on whether a citizenship question should be added to the 2020 census. 

The Trump administration had asked the court to stay its ruling until the Supreme Court considers the matter in a similar case, but Judge Richard Seeborg, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, refused. 

{mosads}”The Court intends to issue a decision in this matter as soon as practicable,” Seeborg, an Obama appointee, said in his brief ruling.

The Supreme Court announced last week that it will review a decision from a federal district court in New York barring Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross from adding the question about citizenship to the 2020 census this term and on Friday scheduled arguments for April 23 at 10 a.m. 

In agreeing to hear the case, the justices are bypassing a review in the regional appeals court.

The case in California stems from challenges the state of California and separately the city of San Jose and the group Black Alliance for Just Immigration brought against the question.