A US appeals court is set to reassess its decision in favor of Donald Trump's planned deployment of Oregon national guard troops to Portland, amid concerns from the state and city officials that the move was made under false pretenses.
The initial three-judge panel had voted 2-1 to allow Trump to deploy federalized troops to the city, citing his claim that he has the legal authority to do so. However, a judge on the ninth circuit court of appeals has now requested a vote from a larger panel of judges on whether to rehear the case.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has expressed her hopes that the full appeals court will vacate the initial decision and reverse it. She has also urged the Trump administration to send all national guard members home, describing the situation as "troubling" and stating that she is concerned about the president's ability to suppress free speech in the city.
The decision by the lower court had blocked Trump's effort to deploy Oregon national guard troops, with Judge Karin Immergut ruling that the president's claims about Portland being a war zone were "simply untethered to the facts". However, the initial three-judge panel later lifted this order, allowing the deployment to proceed.
The city and state officials have now submitted written briefs arguing for a rehearing of the case, with lawyers for the Trump administration opposing it. The decision will be made by 29 active judges on the appeals court, who will vote on whether or not to rehear the case.
The outcome is seen as a crucial test of Trump's authority and his ability to use executive power to enforce his policies in Oregon. The state has argued that the deployment was unlawful and that it would undermine the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest.
If the larger panel reverses the initial decision, it could have significant implications for the president's use of federalized troops to enforce his policies nationwide. As one lawyer has noted, a successful rehearing could give Trump "unilateral power to put Oregon soldiers on our streets with almost no justification".
The initial three-judge panel had voted 2-1 to allow Trump to deploy federalized troops to the city, citing his claim that he has the legal authority to do so. However, a judge on the ninth circuit court of appeals has now requested a vote from a larger panel of judges on whether to rehear the case.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has expressed her hopes that the full appeals court will vacate the initial decision and reverse it. She has also urged the Trump administration to send all national guard members home, describing the situation as "troubling" and stating that she is concerned about the president's ability to suppress free speech in the city.
The decision by the lower court had blocked Trump's effort to deploy Oregon national guard troops, with Judge Karin Immergut ruling that the president's claims about Portland being a war zone were "simply untethered to the facts". However, the initial three-judge panel later lifted this order, allowing the deployment to proceed.
The city and state officials have now submitted written briefs arguing for a rehearing of the case, with lawyers for the Trump administration opposing it. The decision will be made by 29 active judges on the appeals court, who will vote on whether or not to rehear the case.
The outcome is seen as a crucial test of Trump's authority and his ability to use executive power to enforce his policies in Oregon. The state has argued that the deployment was unlawful and that it would undermine the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest.
If the larger panel reverses the initial decision, it could have significant implications for the president's use of federalized troops to enforce his policies nationwide. As one lawyer has noted, a successful rehearing could give Trump "unilateral power to put Oregon soldiers on our streets with almost no justification".
. The governor and city officials are right to be worried about free speech and the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble and protest. It's like, if Trump can just muscle his way into cities like Portland and suppress dissenting voices, where does that leave us? 
I'm not sure what the outcome is gonna be yet, but it feels like a big deal for the president's power and authority 
. Either way, it's interesting to see how this all plays out in the courts...
, especially when governor and city officials are saying it was done under false pretenses 
. I mean, how can you just send in troops without giving people a chance to protest or express themselves peacefully? It sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. What's next, sending in the military to break up peaceful rallies? I'm all for keeping everyone safe, but this feels like a slippery slope 
The whole thing is just a mess, if you ask me. I think Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is spot on saying it's "troubling" and that Trump's trying to suppress free speech in the city. It's not like they're talking about some war zone, Portland's just having a bunch of protests like every other city in the US 
. And what's with all the drama? Can't we just have an honest discussion about whether or not Trump has the authority to deploy troops without making it some big deal? It's just politics as usual, imo 
...i mean, the fact that he's trying to deploy them under false pretenses is just shady 
...i hope that governor kotek's concerns are taken seriously and that those soldiers go home ASAP 
...it feels like trump is testing how far he can push his power without facing any consequences 
hoping they make the right decision 
i hope that bigger court reverses the initial decision and puts a stop to this nonsense. we need to stand up for our rights and not let anyone bully us into silence 
. The fact that Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is calling it "troubling" and saying she's concerned about the president suppressing free speech just reinforces my anxiety 
? It's just not right 
and we need to keep an eye on this one 
. I'm all about citizens having their rights, you know? The governor is super worried about this situation and wants all those soldiers to go home ASAP. It's like, can't we just have some peace in Portland already?! 
. So yeah, this is one of those cases where you gotta keep an eye on it, 'cause it's all about how far the president can push things... 
. I mean, the whole thing just seems fishy. The governor is right to be concerned – it does feel like the president is trying to suppress free speech and assemble, which is basically a fundamental right in America 
. It's all about checks and balances, right? But if Trump gets to dictate how federalized troops operate, it could lead to some serious civil liberties issues