August 1, 2016
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves has denied Gov. Phil Bryant and executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services John Davis' motion to stay the preliminary injunction http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/jul/01/still-legal-limbo-hb-1523-down-mississippi-not-out/">Reeves initially issued, which blocked House Bill 1523 from becoming law.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/documents/2016/aug/01/judge-reeves-order-motion-stay-hb-1523-case/">In his 6-page order, Reeves says that the state did not prove irreparable injury in their motion.
"A Mississippian – or a religious entity for that matter – holding any of the beliefs set out for special protection in § 2 [of HB 1523] may invoke existing protections for religious liberty, including Mississippi’s Constitution, Mississippi’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the First Amendment to the United State Constitution," Reeves wrote. "HB 1523’s absence does not impair the free exercise of religion."
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/documents/2016/aug/01/judge-reeves-order-motion-stay-hb-1523-case/">Reeves' order means he has officially passed HB 1523's fate into the hands of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
"The motions are denied," Reeves concludes. "The baton is now passed."
Gov. Bryant and Davis have also http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/jul/08/gov-bryant-alone-appeals-hb-1523-wants-special-pro/">appealed to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals separately, asking them to lift Reeves' preliminary injunction. For more stories on HB 1523, visit http://jacksonfreepress.com/lgbt">jacksonfreepress.com/lgbt.
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