Ban on the ban still in place

July 21, 2010 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Author:  Damien M. Schiff

A few weeks ago I reported on Judge Martin Friedman's decision to grant an injunction sought by Gulf-oil-dependent businesses to overturn the Obama Administration's moratorium on offshore oil drilling.  Following the issuance of that injunction, several environmental groups asked the court to reverse itself on the grounds that Judge Friedman had recently owned some $15,000 of stock in ExxonMobil.

In a decision issued last week, the judge rejected the argument that his original decision was tainted or improper.  In another decision issued today, the judge rejected a request to set aside the injunction.  Reuters reports.