PORTLAND, Ore. – Amaroq Weiss, the Center for Biological Diversity’s West Coast wolf organizer, issued this statement today following the Oregon Court of Appeals’ decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed in December by the Center, Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild challenging last fall’s decision by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to remove state Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves.
“If Oregon’s wolves are going to survive and thrive, they deserve their day in court. Unfortunately the state legislature, Gov. Kate Brown and now the court of appeals are throwing roadblocks in their way,” Weiss said. “We’ll continue to stand up for wolves by filing a motion with the court to reconsider its decision to dismiss, so that the matter can be fully heard.”
Background
The court’s dismissal of the lawsuit was in response to a notice filed by the Oregon Department of Justice a few weeks ago suggesting to the court that the lawsuit was potentially moot due to a bill ratifying the state-delisting decision passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed into law in March by Gov, Brown. Oddly, the court issued the dismissal despite the fact that no motion to dismiss had been filed by any parties. As a result, conservation groups will be filing a motion for reconsideration of the dismissal.