This just in:
"The Judge just denied the Center for Biological Diversity's motion for summary judgment, on the merits, in an oral opinion issued after about an hour of argument."
That statement was just emailed from the Washington, D.C. federal district court, from Bert Ashbrook. Bert and his firm took this case pro bono and have worked with a number of us, including convention staff and key witnesses, the Board of Governors and NSS Legal Committee. We had to keep this quiet, but it has been in the works since the motion was filed.
The NSS filed for intervenor status, even though CBD did not name the NSS in the lawsuit, only the Bureau of Land Management. The hearing took place at 2:00 PM today.
This means the BLM permit issued for the NSS Convention attendees to visit certain caves on BLM land during the convention stands.