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# Don’t Expect to See Trump’s Taxes, CA’s Attempt at Disclosure is in Trouble
November 07 2019
Written by Dan Morain, Judy Lin.
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**CAL MATTERS-Legislation** [**signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom**](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB27) primarily aimed at requiring Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns before being placed on the March 3 primary ballot appears to be in jeopardy.
**All seven California Supreme Court justices** pointedly questioned [Deputy Attorney General Jay Russell](https://www.law.com/therecorder/2019/11/06/where-does-it-end-california-justices-question-requiring-trump-tax-returns/?kw=%27Where%20Does%20It%20End%27?%20California%20Justices%20Question%20Requiring%20Trump%20Tax%20Returns%20&utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=afternoonupdate&utm_content=20191106&utm_term=ca), as he sought to defend the [Democratic-backed legislation](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB27) in oral arguments in Sacramento on Wednesday. *(Photo above:* Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye at oral arguments over California’s attempt to force Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns (photo by Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
**Justice Ming Chin:** “Where does it end? Do we get all high school report cards? Do we get certified birth certificates? Do we get five years of medical records?”
- **Gov. Jerry Brown** vetoed similar legislation in 2017, warning that other states might require birth certificates, health records, or high school report cards.
- **Newsom said** upon signing the bill in July: “The disclosure required by this bill will shed light on conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or influence from domestic and foreign business interests.”
**Sacramento attorney Thomas Hiltachk**, representing California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson, argued Senate Bill 27 violates the U.S. Constitution, and a 1972 state constitutional amendment that says the primary ballot must include all recognized presidential candidates.
**Chief Justice** [**Tani Cantil-Sakauye**](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-06/trump-taxes-ballot-california-supreme-court) asked Russell: ”We’ve searched the record to determine whether or not the California Legislature even considered the California Constitution in the drafting of SB 27. We didn’t find anything. Did you?”
**There wasn’t.**
**What’s next:** The justices must act within 90 days. If the GOP prevails, its attorneys will seek attorneys fees. A separate suit over the law is pending in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
*(This piece was posted originally at CalMatters.org.)*
*-cw*
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