Judge in L.A. Will Hear Challenge to El Toro Vote

A lawsuit challenging the legality of the March 5 vote to replace airport zoning at the former El Toro Marine base has been assigned to a judge in Los Angeles.

The case was assigned Tuesday to Judge Dzintra Janavs, who ruled two years ago that an earlier anti-airport initiative--Measure F--which at that point was headed for the March 2000 ballot, appeared to be unconstitutional. She nonetheless allowed the measure to go forward and it was passed by voters. Another judge and ultimately an appellate court tossed out the initiative as unconstitutional.

Attorneys for airport supporters, who filed the challenge, argue that local voters cannot interfere with the authority of the Board of Supervisors to determine the fate of the former Marine base.