Judge Simon Recuses in Oregon Guard Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon recused himself from Oregon’s lawsuit seeking to block President Trump’s deployment of roughly 200 National Guard troops to Portland after the Justice Department asked him to step aside, citing public comments by his wife, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, opposing the deployment. DOJ attorneys said Bonamici’s signing of a letter, participation in a press conference with Gov. Tina Kotek, and public statements calling the move a “gross abuse of power” could create the appearance of partiality. Simon, an Obama appointee, wrote that he did not believe recusal was legally required but would step aside to keep the focus on the case’s constitutional and statutory issues; the matter was reassigned to Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee. Oregon filed an emergency motion seeking a temporary restraining order to block the federalization of the state Guard, and a hearing was scheduled for Friday. Both Simon and Rep. Bonamici declined additional comment, and Oregon officials said the reassignment does not affect the merits of their challenge.