For Immediate Release

Contact: Greg Eddleston (503) 228.6079 / geddleston@dwd.org

Portland, OR --- “Weak” is what Portland attorney Eli Stutsman called the recent filing of briefs by the Attorney General John Ashcroft’s office.  “As a matter of law Ashcroft’s initial ruling was weak, and their brief does nothing to strengthen their case,” said Stutsman, attorney for an Oregon physician and pharmacist fighting to protect the rights of terminally ill Oregonians who wish to use Oregon’s Death with Dignity law.

The reply briefs filed today, “continue to demonstrate to the court the strength of our case and I am confident we will prevail,” Stutsman added.  The case is sponsored by Oregon Death with Dignity Center.  Oral arguments are scheduled for March 22.

For copies of the reply briefs please contact Greg Eddleston (503) 228.6079.

In addition to legal preparations, Oregon Death with Dignity Center is tapping into a well of public sentiment against the Ashcroft ruling with an online petition it is sponsoring at www.backoffjohn.com

“We’ve found that people find Ashcroft’s meddling in Oregon’s law laughable, and so www.backoffjohn.com was created so we can beat the attorney general in the court of public opinion as well as in a court of law,” said Scott Swenson, Executive Director of Oregon Death with Dignity Center.

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