Countywide : Sheriff’s Candidate Suit to Remain On Hold

Attorneys representing sheriff’s candidate Linda Lea Calligan failed Wednesday to convince a federal magistrate to let them question Sheriff Brad Gates and Registrar of Voters Al Olson. Calligan is suing Gates and Olson in Los Angeles federal court, alleging that they violated her civil rights by deleting part of her candidate’s statement from the June 3 primary voters’ handbook. U.S. Magistrate Joseph Reichmann said Calligan’s attorneys should delay the questioning until after another federal court hearing scheduled for Tuesday. At that hearing, U.S. District Judge Matt Byrne Jr. is scheduled to consider Calligan’s motion for summary judgment and a county motion asking Byrne to abstain from ruling in the case. A state appeals court is due to hear the matter June 18.