Democracy Dies in Darkness

California opens special session preparing for anti-Trump lawsuits

The session follows Donald Trump’s vows to punish the state if it fails to hew to his policy prescriptions.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) walks to the dais of the State Assembly during its organizing session in Sacramento on Monday. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
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SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers returned to the Capitol here on Monday to open an emergency special session aimed at establishing a multimillion-dollar legal fund to combat the incoming Trump administration’s expected barrage of lawsuits.

The special session, which Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last month, kicked off the same day the state legislature swore in its newly elected members — meaning some of their first official actions will be planning for years of anticipated conflict with the federal government.