OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington State University and Oregon State University continued their battle with the departing Pac-12 schools over governance of the conference’s board of trustees on Thursday.
In three separate answers to motions filed by the University of Washington, the schools opposed review of Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey’s decision to grant them control over the board.
Each answer was signed on to by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
The remaining schools argued Judge Libey’s ruling “did not commit probable error,” thus the Washington State Supreme Court has no reason to reconsider it.
“The superior court did not err,” one of the response letters reads. “The court’s ruling correctly applies the Bylaw’s plain and unambiguous language, which requires removal from the Board if a member delivers ‘a notice of withdrawal to the Conference in the period beginning on July 24, 2011, and ending on August 1, 2024.'”
Both schools have repeatedly argued they have been substantially harmed by the announcements of departure of the 10 other Pac-12 schools prior to the Aug. 1, 2024 end of the conference’s Grant of Rights.
The response came four days ahead of a Dec. 12 deadline set by the Supreme Court.
In November, the Washington State Supreme Court granted UW’s motion for an emergency stay of Judge Libey’s ruling. A temporary restraining order, initially granted by Libey on Sept. 11, which prohibits the board from meeting to address matters that impact the future of the conference, was left in place.
