Case Name: JOANNE L. BAKER et al., Petitioners, v. THE MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE EAST LOS ANGELES JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY et al., Respondents; THE PEOPLE, Real Party in Interest
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1971-09-03
Citations: 5 Cal. 3d 669
Docket Number: L.A. No. 29860
Parties: JOANNE L. BAKER et al., Petitioners, v. THE MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE EAST LOS ANGELES JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY et al., Respondents; THE PEOPLE, Real Party in Interest.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 669–670

Head Matter:
[L.A. No. 29860.
In Bank.
Sept. 3, 1971.]
JOANNE L. BAKER et al., Petitioners, v. THE MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE EAST LOS ANGELES JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY et al., Respondents; THE PEOPLE, Real Party in Interest.
Counsel
Mervyn L. Hecht and Roger Jon Diamond for Petitioners.
John D. Maharg, County Counsel, and Edward H. Gaylord, Assistant County Counsel, for Respondents.
No appearance for Real Party in Interest.

Opinion:
Opinion
WRIGHT, C. J.
Petitioners, the operators of several Los Angeles County bookstores, are charged with violating Los Angeles County Ordinance 5860, section 321, which prohibits the operation of a bookstore without securing a license from the Los Angeles County Welfare Commission. Petitioners seek writs of prohibition to restrain the respondent courts from taking further proceedings in criminal actions charging them with violations of the ordinance. Since the ordinance is unconstitutional on its face (Perrine v. Municipal Court, ante, p. 656 [97 Cal.Rptr. 320, 488 P.2d 648]) the respondent courts lack jurisdiction of the criminal proceedings against petitioners.
Let peremptory writs of prohibition issue as prayed for.
Peters, J., Tobriner, J., Mosk, J., and Sullivan, J., concurred.