The California Supreme Court denied review of a lower court ruling Wednesday, effectively allowing the continuation of a state-sponsored program for stem cell research operated by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. A California state appeals court upheld the validity of the program in February, writing that it "suffers from no constitutional or other legal infirmity." Commenting on the Supreme Court's action, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said:

Today's action by the California Supreme Court is a victory for our state because potentially life-saving science can continue without a shadow of legal doubt. This decision reaffirms voters' will to keep California on the forefront of embryonic stem cell research. California's leadership gives the best promise of finding a cure for deadly and debilitating diseases.

The research program, known as Proposition 71, was approved in a 2004 state referendum by a 59 percent margin.

The lawsuit against the program was brought by the California Family Bioethics Council and two anti-tax organizations - the People's Advocate and the National Tax Limitation Foundation. The trial court determined that the stem cell program was being administered with sufficient state control and did not violate ballot initiative or conflicts of interest rules.