It鈥檚 been a week since Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff several of Brown鈥檚 emergency orders.
A lot has happened since then 鈥� the Oregon Supreme Court let the governor鈥檚 orders , and over the weekend the high court Shirtcliff an Alternative Writ of Mandamus. The judge has three options: he can vacate his own ruling, explain his decision, or do nothing.
鈥淭hey chose a middle ground,鈥� said attorney Kevin Mannix, referring to the members of the Oregon Supreme Court.
Mannix represents 11 intervenors in the case 鈥� the group includes business owners, churchgoers, and officials in Grant and Baker counties who say the emergency orders are affecting their lives.
Several churches are leading the case against Brown. The case argues that she doesn鈥檛 have the authority to issue an executive order that lasts longer than a month.
The governor鈥檚 counsel holds that the orders are legal under Oregon law.
Mannix said his clients understand the need for government to deal with a public health emergency, but disagree with criminal charges against people who violate the orders.
Saturday, the Oregon Supreme Court also approved the Oregon Nurses Association to appear and file documents in support of the governor鈥檚 office.
If the case remains, the state has to file its opening briefs by Thursday, with plaintiff and intervenor responses submitted by Tuesday, June 2.
鈥淚鈥檇 say it鈥檚 a 50-50 proposition 鈥� I think neither the state nor the plantiffs or us as intervenors won with that ruling,鈥� Mannix said.
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