We've had a problem with overcrowded prisons here in California for far too long. Legislators keep lengthening prison sentences, and we had a string of governors who found it politically unpopular to allow parole. So, our prison population has skyrocketed, far faster than we could build prisons. Jerry Brown has begun to reverse that trend, and I think it's a very good thing.

California prisons have been under federal supervision for a number of years because of overcrowding and because of inadequate medical care, so the courts have begun getting tough on California prisons. Justice Kennedy lived in the Sacramento area for many years and understands California's idiosyncrasies, and he is well-respected here. I interviewed him once, and I was very favorably impressed. He was cordial and gracious, and also very rational and balanced in his thinking.

-Joe-