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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Channeling your inner teenager ... Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... Channeling your inner teenager ... Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... OUR VIEW Our View: GMO ruling was correct Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A federal judge made the right call in ruling that supporters of the voter-passed ban on genetically engineered crops be allowed to defend the ordinance in court. Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke ruled on Friday that statewide groups Our Family Farms Coalition and the Center for Food Safety, along with Oshala Farm of the Applegate and Ashland farmer Christopher Hardy, may join Jackson County as defendants in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban. The plaintiffs, local growers of GMO alfalfa, assert the ordinance violates the state's Right To Farm Act and would cost them $2 million each if enforced. Jackson County is a defendant in the suit because the law in question is a county ordinance. But Clarke correctly noted the county lacks an economic interest in the fate of the ordinance. The county also is obligated to represent all its constituents, which include supporters and opponents of banning GMOs. The plaintiffs argued the anti-GMO activists were motivated by political or ideological interests, and had no material interest to defend, so they lacked standing. But, as Clarke noted, Oshala Farm and Hardy do have a financial stake in the case, because the outcome could affect their ability to produce seed free of any traces of genetically modified organisms. In fact, that was a primary motivation for the anti-GMO campaign in the first place. Now the case can proceed, and justice will be better served because both sides will be fully represented in arguments made in the courtroom.   DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501