Oregon Public Broadcasting

Wednesday was supposed to be the first day Oregonians could sign up as domestic partners, under a law that was to have taken effect with the new year.

But a federal judge issued a last minute injunction last Friday -- meaning no one could register domestic partnerships.

Margaret Olney is an attorney for Basic Rights Oregon.  That group backs the domestic partnership law. Olney filed a motion Wednesday to include Basic Rights Oregon in the next hearing on the matter.

Margaret Olney: "In the event that the court believes that there is some sort of post-determination process that is available to the plaintiffs, we believe that should also be available to other parties, including Basic Rights Oregon to challenge other signatures."

Plaintiffs in the case argued the Secretary of State's office unfairly threw out signatures gathered in their effort to force a referendum.

The Oregon Legislature passed the new domestic partnership law last year.  Opponents hoped to put it before voters this November, but state officials found they were 96 valid signatures short of qualifying.

The next hearing in the case is set for February 1st.