Early press coverage and reactions to SCOTUS California prison ruling in Plata

Thanks to this post at How Appealing, everyone can quickly jump to some of the early press coverage of the Supreme Court work in the Plata prison ruling this morning (basics here).  Here are some of the highlights:

• From the Los Angeles Times here, "Supreme Court orders California to release tens of thousands of prison inmates. A quote within:

  The American Civil Liberties Union said the court had "done the right thing" by addressing the "egregious and extreme overcrowding in California's prisons." David Fathi, director of the ACLU national prison project, said "reducing the number of people in prison not only would save the state taxpayers half a billion annually, it would lead to the implementation of truly rehabilitative programs that lower recidivism rates and create safer communities."

• From the San Jose Mercury News here, "Supreme Court upholds order requiring California to reduce prison population." Some quotes within:

  In a statement, Gov. Jerry Brown appeared ready to drop the state's fight against the court order and press ahead with his proposed legislation to reduce the prison population primarily by shifting inmates to county jails. He also suggested he'll push the Legislature to provide the funding to the counties that will be needed to transfer as many as 30,000 prisoners to the local level. "As we work to carry out the court's ruling, I will take all steps necessary to protect public safety," the governor said....

  Don Specter, director of the Prison Law Office, praised the ruling, saying it "will not only help prevent prisoners from dying of malpractice and neglect, but it will make the prisons safer for the staff, improve public safety and save the taxpayers billions of dollars."

• From the AP here, "High court to Calif: Cut prison inmates by 30,000." Some quotes within:

  Michael Bien, one of the lawyers representing inmates in the case, said, "The Supreme Court upheld an extraordinary remedy because conditions were so terrible."

  The ruling comes amid efforts in many states, accelerated by budget gaps, to send fewer people to prison in the first place. Proposals vary by state, but include ways to reduce sentences for lower-level offenders, direct some offenders to alternative sentencing programs and give judges more discretion in sentencing. "There's a growing consensus that there are better ways to run criminal justice systems," said Michael Mushlin, an expert on prisoners' rights at Pace Law School in White Plains, N.Y.

Today's main posts on the Plata ruling:

• In 5-4 split, SCOTUS (per Justice Kennedy) affirms California prison reduction order
• Some big-time rhetoric in big-time SCOTUS Plata prison ruling
• Has Justice Scalia started drinking Justice Breyer's "Active Liberty" Kool-Aid? Really?!?!