Human Rights Defense Center v. Union County, Arkansas et al

Filing 45

ORDER granting 44 Motion to Reopen Case. The Court's stay on these proceedings is hereby lifted. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on September 14, 2021. (mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EL DORADO DIVISION
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER
v.

PLAINTIFF

Case No. 1:17-cv-1064

UNION COUNTY, ARKANSAS, et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Reopen Case. ECF No. 44. The Court finds that no
response is necessary and that the matter is ripe for consideration.
The parties previously moved for the Court to stay this matter in light of a pending appeal before
the Eighth Circuit in another matter that addressed similar legal questions. ECF No. 42. The parties
believed that the resolution of that appeal would “significantly affect the currently pending case.” Id. The
Court granted the stay, with the directive that the parties file a motion to reopen this matter within ten days
of the date the Eighth Circuit issued its ruling. ECF No. 43.
On June 8, 2021, the Eighth Circuit issued its opinion in Human Rights Defense Center v. Baxter
County, Ark., 999 F.3d 1160 (8th Cir. 2021). On June 17, 2021, Plaintiff filed the instant motion requesting
the court re-open this matter in light of the Eighth Circuit’s decision. ECF No. 44. Plaintiff noted that
Defendants objected to reopening this matter prior to the Eighth Circuit issuing a mandate for its decision.
On July 21, 2021, the Eighth Circuit issued its formal mandate for its opinion and judgment. See Human
Rights Defense Center v. Baxter County, Ark., No. 19-2096, Entry ID 5056944 (8th Cir. July 21, 2021).
The Court finds that good cause for the motion has been shown. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion
to Reopen Case (ECF No. 44) is hereby GRANTED. The Court’s stay on these proceedings is hereby
LIFTED. The parties are DIRECTED to issue a joint status report on this matter within fourteen (14)
days of this order.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 14th day of September, 2021.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
Chief United States District Judge