Oregon asks the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to drop a contempt order and related sanctions tied to delays in admitting patients to a state psychiatric hospital, according to court filings reported by multiple outlets. The state says it has paid or accrued more than $4 million in contempt-related fines as the case continues.
The dispute centers on whether Oregon is complying with a federal court order requiring timely admissions. The Oregonian reports that Disability Rights Oregon argues lifting the sanctions now would be premature, pointing to only a short period—about three months—of compliance by the state. Courthouse News similarly describes the state’s position, including the size of the contempt fines and its request that the contempt finding be removed.
The outlets thus differ mainly in emphasis: Oregon highlights its progress and the financial impact of the contempt penalties, while the plaintiffs’ side focuses on timing and whether compliance has been sustained long enough to justify ending the sanctions.
