A California Appeals Court yesterday rejected Governor Pete Wilson’s suit seeking to abolish five affirmative action laws. The three-member court voted two to one and without comment not to hear the suit which would have eliminated state contracting a nd hiring based on gender and race.
Wilson plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Wilson generally supported preferences for women and minorities until last winter. Indeed, during his first gubernatorial term, he signed many bills which reaffirmed affirmative action. He announced the suit last August when he also made his bid for the presidency. He planned to use his opposition to affirmative action as the cornerstone of his campaign.