SCOTUS to hear Grants Pass homeless case
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 22nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to review the controversial Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that found the city of Grants Pass violated the constitution when citing people for sleeping in public places. The appeals court ruling forced governments throughout the Ninth Circuit to rewrite their ordinances dealing with the homeless.
The ruling stated that the city of Grants Pass could not ticket or arrest people for sleeping in public places or using sleeping bags and other bedding to stay warm unless the city provided those people with shelter options that did not set a high bar for admission.
The states impacted by the ruling include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada, Montana, Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii. Numerous briefs asking for the Supreme Court to intervene have been filed by cities, counties and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the case to be heard in April. Political observers in Washington, D.C. speculate that by accepting the case SCOTUS is likely to overturn it.
