People who are in prison usually speak of the harsh conditions of the prisons. In some cases, those complaints are unfounded and the person just doesn't like the rules of confinement. There are some cases, however, in which the prisoners do have valid concerns. A...
Federal Appeals
Same-sex marriage in complex litigation in Oregon
Same-sex marriage is a widely debated issue among American citizens. The issue of whether or not to allow it in each state has led to multiple court cases, including the complex litigation involving Geiger v. Kitzhaber in Oregon.The federal court in Oregon is...
Where one group’s rights end and another’s begins
America had been dubbed the "Great American Melting Pot" for ages. One of our greatest strengths is the diversity of cultures that exists throughout the country, including here in Portland. However, it would be untruthful not to admit that this diversity can also be...
Gun control ban struck down, federal appeal most likely to follow
The argument for and against the right to bear arms is ongoing and will most likely remain that way for some to come. Both sides are determined to have their way; proponents of gun safety laws want to restrict gun ownership and opponents of gun laws cite the 2nd...
Civil litigation appeal clarifies bloggers’ first amendment right
Many residents of Portland, Oregon, likely have blogs. From sharing recipes online to discussing news or celebrity stories, bloggers provide entertainment and information online, much like professional journalists. An appeals court ruled in a civil litigation case on...
Oregan officials frustrate natural gas interests with delays
Over the years, liquefied natural gas interests have faced a number of struggles in Oregon. Each attempt to extract resources from the state's land seems to end in complex litigation. In one case, project backers gave up chasing legal disputes after spending $100...
Cross-state pollution target of Supreme Court civil litigation
We all know that air pollution is a problem throughout the nation, even in relatively pristine states like Oregon. Even though states may set their own environmental regulations, the fact is that pollution does not recognize state boundary lines. What happens, then,...
Federal fish stocking lawsuit dismissed
A wilderness advocacy organization's lawsuit targeting the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will not go to trial following its dismissal in federal court. The lawsuit accused the agency of violating the Clean Water Act by artificially stocking several bodies...
Predator killing lawsuit mirrors 2010 Oregon case
A rejected lawsuit aimed at stopping a federal program designed to terminate predators that kill livestock will see new life after the wildlife conservation group behind the claim appealed to the U.S. District Court decision that saw the case thrown out. The suit has...
Federal appeals court rules against northwestern oyster farm
An oyster farm in the northwestern United States will not be receiving a new lease that allows it to operate in the Point Reyes National Seashore, located about 300 miles from the Oregon border. The three-judge panel of a federal appeals court sided with former...