(Oregon) Judge told vacate or explain order nixing virus restrictions
Source: Associated Press
Judge told vacate or explain order nixing virus restrictions
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
May 23, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The Oregon Supreme Court is giving a rural judge until Tuesday to toss out his ruling that found the governors coronavirus restrictions are invalid.
If the judge declines to do so, justices said Saturday that Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff must explain why and give the state and churches who sued over the stay-at-home directives an opportunity to make further arguments.
Shirtcliff ruled Monday that Gov. Kate Brown had exceeded her authority by shutting down in-person religious services to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The lawsuit was brought by 10 churches around Oregon and later was joined by several local elected officials and business owners.
Shirtcliffs broad ruling also invalidated many of the other provisions of Browns stay-at-home order, including a ban on public gatherings and a ban on non-essential businesses and sit-down service in bars and restaurants.
The Supreme Court quickly stayed Shirtcliffs order, keeping Browns directives in place.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/e2e3ace9fdf5d9cafe9370c77f630378