Charity Kenyon '77 Successfully Argues Before CA Supreme Court
Charity Keyon 77, representing the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) on tribal sovereignty issues, successfully argued before the California Supreme Court in a landmark case in which the Court took the controversial stand that the state can sue Indian tribes for failing to disclose campaign contributions and lobbying activities.
On December 21, 2006, the Court upheld the right of the FPPC to sue the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for failing to disclose the tribe's contributions to political campaigns and its lobbying activities. In a majority opinion written by Justice Chin, the state Supreme Court stated, "Tribal members, as citizens of the United States, are allowed to participate in state elections. Allowing the Tribe immunity from suit in this context would allow tribal members to participate in elections and make campaign contributions (using the tribal organization) unfettered by regulations designed to ensure the system's integrity. Allowing tribal members to participate in our state electoral process while leaving the state powerless to effectively guard against political corruption puts the state in an untenable and indefensible position without recourse."
The 4-3 decision is unprecedented nationally and all but guarantees review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kenyon is a partner at Riegels Campos & Kenyon LLP in Sacramento. Named one of Northern California's Top 100 Super Lawyers in 2005 and Sacramento County Bar Association's Distinguished Attorney 2003, Kenyon has represented local, state, and national news media before state and federal trial and appellate courts for more than 25 years. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment Law since 1991.
An elected member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and its Secretary-Treasurer for 2005-06, Charity's related emphasis is on appellate advocacy, with primary or sole responsibility for more than 150 appeals and writs, including more than two dozen published decisions. Charity also represents individuals and entities in prosecuting and defending protests of state and local government contract awards and other public contract disputes.
Kenyon is a board member of the UC Davis School of Law's Alumni Association. In 1997, the School of Law named Kenyon an Outstanding Alumnus and the UC Davis Alumni Association awarded her the Citation for Excellence. Also in 1997, Women Lawyers of Sacramento and the Sacramento County Bar Association awarded her their Frances Newell Carr Achievement Award for Professional Excellence (4th Annual). The Sacramento County Bar Association recognized her efforts on behalf of the community with its Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1996.
Press Release/December 21, 2006
On December 21, 2006, the Court upheld the right of the FPPC to sue the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for failing to disclose the tribe's contributions to political campaigns and its lobbying activities. In a majority opinion written by Justice Chin, the state Supreme Court stated, "Tribal members, as citizens of the United States, are allowed to participate in state elections. Allowing the Tribe immunity from suit in this context would allow tribal members to participate in elections and make campaign contributions (using the tribal organization) unfettered by regulations designed to ensure the system's integrity. Allowing tribal members to participate in our state electoral process while leaving the state powerless to effectively guard against political corruption puts the state in an untenable and indefensible position without recourse."
The 4-3 decision is unprecedented nationally and all but guarantees review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kenyon is a partner at Riegels Campos & Kenyon LLP in Sacramento. Named one of Northern California's Top 100 Super Lawyers in 2005 and Sacramento County Bar Association's Distinguished Attorney 2003, Kenyon has represented local, state, and national news media before state and federal trial and appellate courts for more than 25 years. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment Law since 1991.
An elected member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and its Secretary-Treasurer for 2005-06, Charity's related emphasis is on appellate advocacy, with primary or sole responsibility for more than 150 appeals and writs, including more than two dozen published decisions. Charity also represents individuals and entities in prosecuting and defending protests of state and local government contract awards and other public contract disputes.
Kenyon is a board member of the UC Davis School of Law's Alumni Association. In 1997, the School of Law named Kenyon an Outstanding Alumnus and the UC Davis Alumni Association awarded her the Citation for Excellence. Also in 1997, Women Lawyers of Sacramento and the Sacramento County Bar Association awarded her their Frances Newell Carr Achievement Award for Professional Excellence (4th Annual). The Sacramento County Bar Association recognized her efforts on behalf of the community with its Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1996.
Press Release/December 21, 2006