Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey has given control of the Pac-12 Conference to Washington State University and Oregon State University.
The ruling was handed down during a preliminary injunction hearing this afternoon in Colfax. WSU and OSU are suing the Pac-12 for control of the conference after the announced departure of the other ten schools since June of last year. The Northwest schools successfully argued that USC and UCLA were removed from the Pac-12 governing board when they announced they were leaving in June of last year. That policy was executed again this summer when Colorado announced it was leaving the conference. WSU and OSU attorneys told Judge Libey that they need control of the conference now to start trying to save the conference going forward.
The Pac-12 and the University of Washington unsuccessfully argued that the departing schools would be harmed if only WSU and OSU ran the conference. The defendants’ attorneys told the court that WSU and OSU will spend money try to attract Mountain West Conference schools instead of ensuring the success of the current Pac-12 season.
Judge Libey ruled that the departing schools need to be notified of the WSU and OSU “Pac-2” board meetings and that they be allowed to comment about and dispute any decisions. The ruling makes only WSU and OSU voting members of the board.
The Pac-12 and University of Washington informed Judge Libey that they will be appealing his decision.
