CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Judge Calls Recess in Prop. 73 Case

The federal court trial of a lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 73, the measure limiting campaign contributions, has been recessed until April 19. Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, who heard six days of testimony in the bench trial, will hear final arguments when the trial resumes and issue his ruling at a later date. Karlton ordered the 10-week break so lawyers for both sides would have time to obtain transcripts of the testimony before making their final arguments. A lawsuit filed by a group of labor unions and Democratic legislative leaders contends portions of Proposition 73, passed in June, 1988, deny constitutional rights of free speech by working against candidates--particularly minorities--challenging incumbents. Proposition 73 limits contributions to a candidate to $1,000 from an individual or $5,000 from a political party each fiscal year.