California has the largest number of union members of any state living within its borders, and the recent June 27 decision from the U.S. Supreme Court will have immediate and future consequences. In 2016, it was California’s public unions on the nation’s stage, when Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association brought the issue of “agency fees” (fees paid as nonmembers for nonpolitical running of the union) before the Supreme Court. With the unexpected passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, the court deadlocked and affirmed the Ninth Circuit’s holding that Friedrichs was rightfully controlled by Abood and the questions presented in the appeal were “so insubstantial as not to require further argument, allowing agency fees to continue to be collected from union nonmembers.”

Illinois and Janus Rise Before the Court