Local News Updates & 9th Circuit

The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of a lower court judge in Oregon, which could pave the way for President Trump to deploy the National Guard to Portland.

A divided federal appeals court ruled Monday that President Trump can send members of the National Guard to Portland.

“After considering the record at this preliminary stage, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit wrote in the majority opinion.

The ruling is the latest development in a fast-moving case that began last month when the city of Portland and the states of Oregon and California sued to stop President Trump from calling up the National Guard.

It’s unclear what impact this ruling will immediately have on the ground. The 9th Circuit’s decision only applies to the first of two temporary restraining orders U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut issued this month. The first blocked the federalization of the Oregon National Guard. The second order halted any federalized guard members from deploying to Oregon.

Shortly after the court ruled, the U.S. Department of Justice pressed Immergut to “dissolve” her second restraining order, clearing the way for a possible deployment. The appeals court said it was considering whether a larger panel of judges for the 9th Circuit should rehear the case — something city and state officials are also calling for