We’ve previously reported that Maricopa County, Arizona (the County) violated Gateway Pundit (TGP) and TGP reporter Jordan Conradson’s First Amendment rights by arbitrarily denying them a press pass to participate in press conferences and other press events hosted by the County.
The County doesn’t like TGP or Conradson, and concocted a ridiculous basis up on which to issue their denial: TGP and Conradson had “conflicts of interest,” and that Conradson was not a “bona fide correspondent of repute…”
** Please help TGP defend free speech in America and donate to our Defense Fund here.
As TGP’s lawyers have explained, this arbitrary denial of the press pass is a textbook, first-year law school constitutional law hypothetical if ever there was one. It’s an obvious First Amendment violation.
As a result, we reported that TGP and Conradson sued Maricopa County’s Board of Supervisors, Recorder Stephen Richer, Maricopa County Elections Directors Rey Valenzuela and Scott Jarrett, and County Communications Officers Megan Gilbertson and Marcus Milam in Federal Court in Arizona on November 14, 2022. As part of the suit, TGP/Conradson made a special request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), pending the outcome of the lawsuit. This would have immediately forced the County to grant TGP and Conradson a press pass.
Unfortunately, the judge assigned to the case (Judge John Tuchi) was appointed by Obama – and that’s literally all you need to know. TGP/Conradson’s request for a TRO was denied.
As we reported, TGP and Conradson vowed to continue the offensive by appealing Judge Tuchi’s decision to the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, filing their Notice of Appeal on November 25, 2022.
Yesterday, November 30, 2022, TGP and Conradson filed an Emergency Request for an Injunction. If granted, the Court would force Maricopa County to immediately grant TGP and Conradson press credentials. TGP requested a very short briefing schedule (tight deadlines for the parties to submit their written arguments).
YOU CAN READ THAT EMERGENCY MOTION, HERE:
Motion ofr Injunction Pendi… by Jim Hoft
And then, something amazing happened. After the Court closed, a new Order from the Court of Appeals shot out over the wire. The Court granted TGP’s request for a short briefing schedule, but made the time span so short, that Maricopa County had less than 24 hours to respond and mount an argument against TGP’s request!
WHY IT’S SUCH GOOD NEWS!! According to legal experts consulted by the Gateway Pundit, the Court’s move is a strong indication that the judges on the 9th Circuit appellate panel actually read TGP’s arguments and recognize the obvious stakes if TGP is in the right.
As a result, it appears to be a strong indication that the Court may favorably view TGP/Conradson’s emergency request for an injunction (to preserve their First Amendment Rights and get back to journalism).
It’s not over yet, but this is great news!! Please help us if you can!
** Please help TGP defend free speech in America and donate to our Defense Fund here.
**Contact us if you would be interested in filing an amicus brief. tips@thegatewaypundit.com
The post GREAT NEWS! Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Agrees to Hear Gateway Pundit’s Motion for Emergency Relief — PLEASE HELP US FUND THIS IMPORTANT CASE appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.