The political future of Santa Monica’s elected leaders is on the line Wednesday, as the trial to determine whether Latino voters are suppressed by the current election system begins. Up and down the state, officials will be watching as the City Attorney’s Office squares off with the Malibu lawyer responsible for upending dozens of city councils in California.

The City’s witness list for the trial reads like a whos-who of city politics spanning multiple eras. The current council, City Manager Rick Cole and other department heads, a police captain, former mayors Judy Abdo, Michael Feinstein, Dennis Zane, Nat Trives and former city councilman Kelly Olsen are among the roughly 60 witnesses slated to testify during the trial in August.

A City spokesperson declined to say how much the litigation in costing, citing an active case and attorney-client privilege.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/santa-monicas-democracy-gets-its-day-in-court/168023