UPDATE (11:29 a.m. PT, May 26) — Oregon's high court said Saturday that Baker County Circuit Court faces a choice, which could shape the fate of a legal challenge to Gov. Kate Brown's coronavirus-related executive orders.
Related: Oregon Supreme Court Orders Decision From Baker Co. Judge On COVID-19 Restrictions
Earlier this week, a group of churches
challenged Brown’s executive orders
that mandated social distancing and required businesses to close. The Baker County Circuit Court sided with the churches, stating that Brown had exceeded her authority in the length of the pandemic-related orders.
On Saturday, the state Supreme Court ruled that Judge Matthew Shirtcliff must decide by 5 p.m. Tuesday whether to vacate his earlier ruling to invalidate Brown's orders, or he can argue further before Oregon's high court about why that ruling was correct.
Shirtcliff had ruled that Brown’s public health provisions could not extend beyond 28 days, due to a specific section of state law. The governor’s initial emergency declaration lasted for 60 days, and she extended it for an additional 60 days earlier this month.
Hours after the Baker County court’s decision, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a stay, blocking the invalidation of Brown’s orders.
This story has been updated.