In 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Martin v. Boise that cities could not enforce anti-camping ordinances if there were insufficient shelter beds for the homeless population, citing the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. This decision effectively limited cities in Western states from clearing homeless encampments without providing adequate shelter options.

The City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case, originating from Oregon, sought to overturn this precedent. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, with significant implications for California and other Western states grappling with homelessness. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, expressed support for overturning the Martin v. Boise decision, arguing that it hindered efforts to address growing homeless encampments.

In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City of Grants Pass, effectively overturning Martin v. Boise. This decision granted cities greater authority to enforce anti-camping ordinances without the obligation to provide shelter beds for every homeless individual.

Following this ruling, the City of Chico moved to dissolve the settlement agreement from the Warren v. Chico lawsuit, which had previously restricted the city’s ability to conduct eviction sweeps at homeless encampments. The city proposed a new agreement that would allow for the enforcement of anti-camping ordinances, aligning with the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson.

Andrew Coolidge’s leadership in these initiatives underscores his commitment to addressing homelessness through both legal advocacy and policy reform, aiming to balance the enforcement of city ordinances with the provision of necessary services for homeless individuals.