Federal judges refuse to delay California prison ruling

The panel of three federal judges scolded the administration for seeking the delay. The judges have ordered the state to reduce its inmate population by 40,000 inmates over two years. That's about a quarter of all inmates housed in California's 33 adult prisons.

"This court has been more than patient with the state and its officials" in waiting for California to reduce overcrowding to improve medical and mental health care for inmates, the judges said in a five-page ruling. "We are persuaded that it is now in the best interests of all concerned to act as swiftly as possible."

The state is under order to submit a plan to reduce the prison population size to the court by Sept. 18.

In the motion that the panel acted on Thursday, the state had hoped to delay that submission while it appeals the overall prison population reduction order with the U.S. Supreme Court.