Court Upholds 209

SAN FRANCISCO: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California's Proposition 209, a law banning public hiring, contracting or college admission on the basis of race or gender. The decision overturns a previous injunction that had blocked enforcement of the controversial law, which passed by 54 percent of state voters last November. Although the ruling is scheduled to take effect in 21 days, civil rights groups and the Justice Department are expected to ask for a continuation of the enforcement ban while they challenge the decision in a higher court.