Free Republic

SALEM, Ore. (CN) — Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s ban on large church services, intended to slow the spread of Covid-19, was within the law, Oregon’s high court ruled Friday morning. A group of churches led by Elkhorn Baptist Church sued the governor May 6, claiming her March 23 stay-at-home order, and its subsequent extension until July 6, is longer than the Oregon Constitution allows. The churches claim the order violates their free exercise of religion by barring nonessential social and recreational gatherings. Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff sided with the churches, issuing a preliminary injunction that would have allowed...

PORTLAND, Ore. — Baker County Judge Matthew Shirtcliff announced Tuesday that he will not vacate his injunction that made Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's stay-at-home orders temporarily "null and void." The Oregon Supreme Court issued an alternative writ of mandamus Saturday, which said that Shirtcliff had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to either vacate the injunction or explain why it should remain in place. Since Shirtcliff chose to stand by his original ruling, the state must file a brief with the Oregon Supreme Court by Thursday, May 28 and the plaintiffs must file briefs by Tuesday, June 2. Shirtcliff's decision tossed out...

The Oregon Supreme Court Monday evening issued a stay blocking a decision earlier in the day by Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff that temporarily stopped the state from enforcing Gov. Kate Brown's executive orders restricting certain activities due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means the executive orders will remain in effect statewide. After a 20-minute hearing Monday morning at the Baker County Courthouse, Shirtcliff granted a preliminary injunction to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the governor May 6. The next step is for attorneys from both sides to submit responses to the Supreme Court related to...