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Full Court Press

By Charles Apple

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his office have filed or joined in 39 lawsuits against the federal government since Donald Trump took office as president on Jan. 20, 2017.

Ferguson appeared at a town hall June 12, 2019 at Spokane’s Montvale Event Center, in a conversation with Spokesman-Review Olympia Bureau Chief Jim Camden.

Cases led by Ferguson or his office:

15

Cases won:

12

Cases won but could be applealed:

10

Cases lost:

0

1

Jan. 30, 2017

Challenged the president’s executive order banning travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won.

2

Mar. 15, 2017

Challenged the administration’s amended travel ban, issued after first travel ban was struck down.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Ban halted, new suit filed.

3

Mar. 31, 2017

Challenged a delay in implementing new energy-efficiency standards for ceiling fans.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won.

4

May 9, 2017

Challenged leasing of coal-mining rights on public land without updating environmental impact studies.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won, but has been appealed.

5

June 6, 2017

Challenged decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to allow use of neurotoxic pesticides.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won, but has been appealed.

6

June 13, 2017

Challenged a delay in implementing new energy-efficiency standards for air conditioners and other appliances.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won, but has been appealed.

7

June 15, 2017

Challenges Navy’s practice of dumping contaminants into Puget Sound without a permit.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Pending.

8

June 20, 2017

Challenged delays in implementing a new rule regulating methane emissions from oil and gas facilities.

Led By:

Calif. and Mass.

Status:

Won.

9

July 6, 2017

Challenged delay in implementing regulations providing protections for students at for-profit colleges.

Led By:

Mass.

Status:

Won.

10

July 12, 2017

In response to NOAA Fisheries’ refusal to publish regulations to protect sea turtles from drift gillnets.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won.

11

July 24, 2017

Challenged delay in implementing rules on chemical plant disasters and releases of toxic chemicals.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won.

12

Aug. 1, 2017

Challenged delay in designating which areas of the country meet new ground-level ozone standards.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won.

13

Sept. 6, 2017

Challenged president’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won, but has been appealed.

14

Sept. 20, 2017

Challenged suspension of rules aimed at reducing vehicle emissions.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won.

15

Sept. 25, 2017

Challenges administration ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Ban in effect while suit is pending

16

Oct. 9, 2017

Challenged new administration policy restricting access to contraception.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Suit dropped; state joined new suit.

17

Oct. 11, 2017

Revised challenge to administration’s third attempt at a travel ban from some Muslim-majority nations.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

No ruling issued; suit dropped.

18

Oct. 14, 2017

Challenges decision to end subsidies that would reduce health care costs for low-income people.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Subsidies continued; suit dropped.

19

Oct. 17, 2017

Challenges delay of rule aimed at protecting students from “worthless degrees” and high student loan debt.

Led By:

Md. and Pa.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

20

Oct. 17, 2017

In response to failure of Homeland Security to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Led By:

Mass.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

21

Dec. 5, 2017

Challenged delay in designating which areas of the country meet new ground-level ozone standards.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won.

22

Jan. 31, 2018

In response to failure of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won.

23

Feb. 6, 2018

Challenges Federal Communications Commission repeal of “net neutrality” rules.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Similar cases were won; suit dropped

24

Feb. 22, 2018

Challenges Federal Communications Commission repeal of “net neutrality” rules.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

25

April 3, 2018

Challenged decision to add a question about U.S. citizenship to the 2020 Census form.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won, but could be appealed.

26

April 5, 2018

Challenges delays in implementing a new rule regulating methane emissions from oil and gas facilities.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

27

May 1, 2018

Challenges reopening of approval process for new vehicle emissions standards.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

28

May 3, 2018

In response to failure of Environmental Protection Agency to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won.

29

June 26, 2018

Challenges administration policy of separating immigrant families along Southwest border of U.S.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Pending in district court.

30

June 27, 2018

Challenges reversal of rule by the Environmental Protection Agency that would ban use of hydrofluorocarbons.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Pending in federal court.

31

July 18, 2018

Challenged restriction of law enforcement grants to those who support administration’s immigration policies.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won, but could be appealed.

32

July 19, 2018

Challenged suspension of limits on “glider” trucks that don’t meet modern emissions standards.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won.

33

July 26, 2018

Challenged decision that would circumvent Congress to undermine the Affordable Care Act.

Led By:

N.Y.

Status:

Won, but could be appealed.

34

July 30, 2018

Challenged the president’s decision to allow distribution of data files for 3D-printed firearms.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won preliminary injunction.

35

Dec. 18, 2018

Challenged new administration policy restricting access to contraception.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Won preliminary injunction.

36

Mar. 5, 2019

Challenged “gag rule” that would prohibit Title X health providers from referring patients to abortion clinics.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Won temporary injunction.

37

May 13, 2019

Challenges “conscience rule” that allows health care professionals to refuse treatment on religious or moral grounds.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Pending in district court.

38

May 13, 2019

Challenges change in policy by Health and Human Services that would curtail payments to Medicaid.

Led By:

Calif.

Status:

Pending in district court.

39

June 6, 2019

Challenges Environmental Protection Agency decision to relax water quality standards.

Led By:

Wash.

Status:

Pending in district court.

Sources: Washington State Office of the Attorney General; The Spokesman-Review news reports