In a surprise move this afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Mike Liburdi refused to accept a stipulation from new Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and the Biden Department of Justice to dismiss her predecessor’s long-running lawsuit against possible COVID vaccine mandates.

Arizona’s Law has provided coverage as former AG Mark Brnovich’s office struggled to find ways to maintain their first-in-the-nation 2021 lawsuit against possible mandates, trying to tie it to immigration policies, federal contractors and more. It has been a roller coaster ride of a legal action, continuing during the post-election transition period.

This morning, an agreement to bring the roller coaster to a stop was filed with the Court, and it (routinely) asked to vacate a status conference set for Thursday.

This afternoon, Judge Liburdi refused. Noting simply that he reviewed the Stipulation and the request to vacate, Liburdi denied the request.

Arizona’s Law has asked for comment from Mayes’ office, and will supplement as warranted. It should be a more interesting than most kind of status conference.


“AZ Law” includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona’s Politics on the internet. 

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