Megawatt Daily

Lawyers for California Public Utilities Commissioner Henry Duque have asked a state appellate court in San Francisco to overturn a superior court ruling that would remove him from office.

After filing a notice of appeal on May 20, Duque’s lawyers Thursday petitioned to continue a temporary stay of the court’s ruling, which expires June 8. They requested that the First District State Court of Appeals in San Francisco allow a permanent stay until it makes a ruling.

Duque is fighting to remain in his post until his term expires in December after the San Francisco Superior Court April 30 issued a decision that determined he violated state conflict-of-interest laws. The lawsuit was filed by The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights after it was learned that Duque owned shares in Nextel, a PUC-regulated telecommunications company.

If the appellate court does not extend the stay, Duque’s last PUC meeting would be June 6.