As noted earlier, a U.S. District Court in Oregon extended ballot access relief to a statewide Oregon initiative, and the Ninth Circuit refused to stay that relief. The Oregon Attorney General then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a stay. Clarno v People Not Politicians, 20A21.
The U.S. Supreme Court is now interested in knowing if the Secretary of State really wants to appeal. She is Beverly Clarno, a Republican, and she has said publicly that she does not support asking for a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court then asked her to file a supplemental brief, of 100 words or less, to say if she agrees that the Attorney General should pursue the U.S. Supreme Court appeal. She responded equivocally. The initiative proponents then filed their own supplemental brief, saying it is clear the Secretary of State does not really want to appeal. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news.
The Secretary of State, Bev Clarno (R), then capitulated to Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D) and told SCOTUS that she “consented” to the appeal. Clarno was appointed to the Secretary of State position by Governor Kate Brown (D) to replace the deceased Dennis Richardson (R).