OC Judge Denies Request For Restraining Order Over Beach Closures

DANA POINT, CA — An Orange County Superior Court Judge denied the City of Dana Point’s request for a temporary restraining order seeking the prevention of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to close Orange County beaches.

The Hon. Nathan R. Scott denied the request, which sought to keep beaches open until a more complete briefing on the topic could occur in connection with a request for a preliminary injunction, a news release issued Friday evening by the city said.

In denying the restraining order, the court commented that based on the limited time it had to consider the very serious issues presented, it felt compelled to defer to the State’s concerns about public health.

Officials from the two beach communities came a day after Newsom ordered beaches throughout the county to be close. Along with several cities who are attempting to fight the order as a means to making their own decisions about whether beaches remain open, protesters demonstrated in force in opposition to the order. Newsom brushed off reports of the court proceedings and maintained his stance that the public needs to do the right thing in order for beaches to reopen soon.

The request for a further hearing on a preliminary injunction was granted by the court and will occur on May 11, 2020 at 2 pm.

During the court hearing, city officials received a request from the state to participate in a call to develop a plan to reopen beaches in Orange County. As a result of that call, a plan to reopen beaches has been developed and will be submitted to the state over the weekend.

The City is hopeful the plan will satisfy the state, making further court action unnecessary. At this time, beaches remain closed per Newsom’s order.