Cops Fired Over Shooting Get Case Sent to State Court (Correct)

Fired police officers alleging that the Oakland, Calif., violated the city’s charter, code, and state law by assembling a committee that recommended their termination must try their case in state court, the Ninth Circuit ruled Friday.

Francisco Negrete, William Berger, Brandon Hraiz, Craig Tanaka, and Josef Phillips were involved in the fatal shooting of a homeless man in 2018, which prompted an investigation by the police department and Oakland’s civil oversight commission. Both concluded that the officers’ use of force was reasonable.

Oakland’s police department is governed by the city charter but is also subject to oversight from US District ...