Stop Sign Looms For Opponents of Publicly Funded Kings Arena

Both sides agree the group Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork or STOP violated election code in five different places in the petitions it asked people to sign last year. The Sacramento City Clerk ruled the petitions were invalid.

Judge Timothy Frawley told attorneys the intent of the people committing the violations is not important in the case.

City Attorney James Sanchez stopped short of celebrating the judge's tentative rulings.

"We feel very confident that the judge will consider all of the things we have raised and we're looking forward to his decision."

STOP attorney Bradley Hertz essentially waved the white flag in court asking for a final ruling as soon as possible.

"If the ruling is as the judge hinted, and we believe there are grounds for appeal it would be an emergency writ to the Third District Court of Appeal and  they've been known to act quickly in the past when there's a pre-election deadline."

STOP has until February 27th to get a measure before the City Council and on the June ballot.  

The judge says he will issue a final ruling next week.