Oregon stay at home orders ruled "null and void"

Baker County Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff ruled that Goernor Kate Brown’s restrictions on religious gatherings as well as her other coronavirus stay at home orders are "null and void'' because dhe didn’t seek the Legislature's approval to extend the stay-at-home orders beyond a 28-day limit.



Judge Shirtcliff  issued his opinion in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by 10 churches around Oregon that argued the state's social-distancing directives were unconstitutional.

The governor’s office has appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court seeking an emergency review and a hold on Shirtcliff's ruling to keep her emergency orders in effect.

Scott Erickson, chief pastor of one of the churches who filed the lawsuit, is waiting to see what the Supreme Court does before opening the doors to his church.