In 2014, Portland Community College student Leasa Sherman didn't like a grade she received in a class and she stumbled on school rules trying to get the grade changed. Sherman felt the college treated her unfairly, so she sued PCC in federal court. Her case was dismissed.
Four years later, a handful of inmates at an Eastern Oregon prison inspired by Sherman's case are challenging some of those same PCC student-conduct rules in the state Court of Appeals. They want the court to force PCC to go through a complicated and time-consuming procedure required of all state agencies to enact any rules governing student life. PCC's attorneys told the court the college isn't a state agency and doesn't have to comply with the state rulemaking process.
kAmxEVD 2? F?FDF2= 42DE @7 492C24E6CD 7@C 2 4@FCE @7 2AA62=D =682= 7:89E] !6E:E:@?6CD 492==6?8:?8 !rrVD CF=6D :?4=F56 EH@ 4@?G:4E65 >FC56CD[ 2 3FC8=2C H9@ 2=D@ H2D 4@?G:4E65 @7 6D42A6[ 2?5 2 4@?G:4E65 3FC8=2C 2?5 <:5?2AA6C H9@ H2D D6?E6?465 ?62C=J b_ J62CD 28@ 2D 2 52?86C@FD 76=@?]k^Am
kAmp== 2C6 :?>2E6D 2E E96 %H@ #:G6CD r@CC64E:@?2= x?DE:EFE:@? :? &>2E:==2] %96J 92G6 ?@ 5:C64E 4@??64E:@? E@ !rr] %96 4@==686 5@6D?VE AC@G:56 4=2DD6D @C AC@8C2>D 2E E96 t2DE6C? ~C68@? AC:D@?]k^Am
kAmpE E96 962CE @7 E96 492==6?86D :D :?>2E6 pC=6? !@CE6C $>:E9[ E96 8C@FAVD 56724E@ =6256C H9@ 92D 7:=65 ?62C=J a__ =682= 42D6D :? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 4@FCE 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE b_ J62CD] $>:E9 :D 8F:5:?8 :?>2E6DV =682= 677@CED 2?5 QG6EE:?8Q E96 CF=6 492==6?86 A6E:E:@?D 7:=65 36EH66? 62C=J yF=J 2?5 >:5\pF8FDE :? ~C68@?VD r@FCE @7 pAA62=D]k^Am
kAm$>:E9 D2:5 E96 492==6?86D H6C6 :?DA:C65 3J !rrVD EC62E>6?E 7@FC J62CD 28@ @7 $96C>2?[ H9@ :D 9:D 7C:6?5VD D:DE6C] $96C>2? 2EE6?565 !rr 4=2DD6D @? E96 r2D4256 r2>AFD :? a_`b 2?5 a_`c] (96? 2 E62496C 82G6 96C 2 r :? 2? 2AA=:65 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 4=2DD[ $96C>2? AC@E6DE65 2?5 EC:65 E@ 2AA62= E96 8C256 E@ 42>AFD 25>:?:DEC2E@CD] %96 2AA62= 76== 7=2E 3642FD6 25>:?:DEC2E@CD E@=5 $96C>2? D96 72:=65 E@ 7@==@H E96 AC@465FC6 W4@?E24E:?8 E96 E62496C 367@C6 2AA62=:?8X C6BF:C65 3J !rr 8C256\2AA62= CF=6D]k^Am
kAmx? 2 D6G6?\A286[ 92?5HC:EE6? 7656C2= =2HDF:E 7:=65 :? |2J a_`e[ $96C>2? 4=2:>65 E96 E62496C 72:=65 E@ >2<6 244@>>@52E:@?D 7@C 96C 5:D23:=:EJ[ 4C62E65 2 9@DE:=6 =62C?:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 Q72=D:7:65Q 96C 8C256D] p 7656C2= ;F586 28C665 H:E9 !rrVD =2HJ6CD 2?5 5:D>:DD65 E96 42D6 :? }@G6>36C a_`e]k^Am
kAm$96C>2?VD 6IA6C:6?46 D9@H65 $>:E9 E92E !rr DEF56?EDV =:G6D 4@F=5 36 5:DCFAE65 H96? E96J CF? 27@F= @7 E96 4@==686VD CF=6D] qFE[ $>:E9 4=2:>D E96 4@==686 5:5?VE 8@ E9C@F89 E96 AC@A6C DE2E6 AC@46DD E@ 4C62E6 E96 CF=6D]k^Am
kAmQr@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D C@FE:?6=J AC@>F=82E6 CF=6D 8@G6C?:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> :DDF:?8 DEF56?ED A2C<:?8 E:4<6ED E@ DEF56?EDV 6IAF=D:@? 7@C 4962E:?8[Q $>:E9 HC@E6 :? 2 =6?8E9J pF8FDE 6>2:= 6I492?86 23@FE E96 42D6D] Q(96? 2 4@==686 5@6D?VE 7@==@H E96 C6BF:C65 CF=6>2<:?8 AC@46DD ?646DD2CJ E@ >2<6 E9@D6 CF=6D =2H7F=[ :E 7@C76:ED E96 C:89E E@ 4=2:> E92E 2?J A6CD@? 92D G:@=2E65 2 4@==686VD VCF=6]V Qk^Am
kAm}@E 2 DE2E6 286?4Jnk^Am
kAmx? 62C=J yF=J[ $>:E9 7:=65 D6G6? !rr CF=6D 492==6?86D :? E96 4@FCE @7 2AA62=D H:E9 :?>2E6 |:4926= s6J6EE6[ 2 7@C>6C u@C6DE vC@G6 C6D:56?E H9@ H2D 4@?G:4E65 @7 2 a_`e 2>3FD9 D9@@E:?8 E92E <:==65 2 >2? @FED:56 2 r@CG2==:D C6DE2FC2?E] x? yF=J 2?5 >:5\pF8FDE[ E9C66 >@C6 492==6?86D H6C6 7:=65 3J :?>2E6 y6DD:6 {] y@?6D[ H9@ :D D6CG:?8 2 =:76 D6?E6?46 7@C 2 `hf_ |F=E?@>29 r@F?EJ >FC56C] z6??6E9 #] q2?6D[ 2 4@?G:4E65 3FC8=2C 7C@> z=2>2E9 u2==D[ 7:=65 2?@E96C 492==6?86 :? >:5\pF8FDE]k^Am
kAms6J6EE6 2?5 q2?6D 2C6 :?>2E6 EFE@CD 7@C q=F6 |@F?E2:? r@>>F?:EJ r@==686VD AC@8C2>D 2E E96 AC:D@?]k^Am
kAm%96 CF=6D E96JVC6 492==6?8:?8 8@G6C? ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ 2DA64E @7 !rr DEF56?EDV 42>AFD =:G6D] %96J 4@G6C DF49 E9:?8D 2D 6=64EC@?:4 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 :?7@C>2E:@? D64FC:EJ[ 49:=5C6? @? !rr AC@A6CEJ[ AC@9:3:E:@? @7 E@3244@ @? 42>AFD[ DEF56?E 4@?5F4E[ 24256>:4 :?E68C:EJ[ ?@?5:D4C:>:?2E:@?[ DEF56?EDV C:89ED 2?5 A6CD@?2= 6IAC6DD:@?]k^Am
kAm!rr DA@<6D>2? y2>6D w:== D2:5 E96 4@==686VD CF=6D H6C6 6?24E65 3J :ED t5F42E:@?2= p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66[ H9:49 :?4=F56D DEF56?ED[ 724F=EJ[ 24256>:4 AC@76DD:@?2=D[ 4=2DD:7:65 DE277 2?5 25>:?:DEC2E@CD] !rrVD AC6D:56?E 92D E96 7:?2= D2J @? E96 CF=6D[ w:== D2:5]k^Am
kAmQw2G:?8 2 DEF56?E 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E :D 2 H6==\6DE23=:D965 36DE AC24E:46 :? 9:896C 65F42E:@? 2?5 E96 4@56 92D 6I:DE65 2E !rr 7@C D@>6 E:>6[ 2D :E 92D :? >@DE 4@==686D 2?5 F?:G6CD:E:6D[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm!rr :D E96 DE2E6VD =2C86DE A@DE\D64@?52CJ 65F42E:@? :?DE:EFE:@?[ H:E9 ?62C=J `__[___ 7F==\ 2?5 A2CE\E:>6 DEF56?ED] %96 4@==686 92D 7@FC >2;@C !@CE=2?5\2C62 42>AFD6D[ H:E9 6:89E D>2==6C FC32? 46?E6CD 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ AC@8C2>D :? 7:G6 4@F?E:6D DFCC@F?5:?8 !@CE=2?5]k^Am
k5:G :5lQs'\G:6H6C\cghdeef\st*t%%t\2>A\$|x%w\G\!rrQ 4=2DDlQsr\6>365 sr\6>365\5@4F>6?E s'\4@?E2:?6CQmk^5:Gm
kAms']=@25WQk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^cghdeef\st*t%%t\2>A\$|x%w\G\!rr];DQm9EEADi^^HHH]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^cghdeef\st*t%%t\2>A\$|x%w\G\!rr];Dk^2mQ[ Xjk^Am
k?@D4C:AEmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2DD6ED]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^cghdeef^st*t%%t\2>A\$|x%w\G\!rr]A57Qmst*t%%t U2>Aj $|x%w G !rr W!suXk^2mk3C ^mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2DD6ED]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^cghdeef^st*t%%t\2>A\$|x%w\G\!rr]EIEQmst*t%%t U2>Aj $|x%w G !rr W%6IEXk^2mk^?@D4C:AEm
kAmt249 %H@ #:G6CD :?>2E6VD 4@FCE @7 2AA62=DV A6E:E:@?D FD65 2 DE2E6 DE2EFE6 2==@H:?8 ;FDE 23@FE 2?J@?6 E@ 492==6?86 DE2E6 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 CF=6D] x7 DF446DD7F=[ E96 492==6?86D 4@F=5 27764E E96 4@==686VD 23:=:EJ E@ 5:D4:A=:?6 @C C6>@G6 F?CF=J DEF56?ED 7C@> 42>AFD] %96J 2=D@ 4@F=5 7@C46 E96 4@==686 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 2 AC@46DD C6BF:C65 3J 2== DE2E6 286?4:6D E@ C6\6DE23=:D9 E96 CF=6D[ H9:49 :?4=F56D D9@H:?8 2 ?665 7@C E96 CF=6D 2?5 9@DE:?8 AF3=:4 962C:?8D :? H9:49 E96 AF3=:4 42? @3;64E @C C64@>>6?5 492?86D]k^Am
kAmr@==686 @77:4:2=D 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? E96 :?>2E6 A6E:E:@?D] !rrVD 2EE@C?6JD H:E9 |:==6C }2D9 vC292> U2>Aj sF??[ 2D<65 E96 4@FCE E@ 5:D>:DD E96 492==6?86D[ D2J:?8 E96 4@==686 :D ?@E 2 DE2E6 286?4J 2?5 5@6D?VE 92G6 E@ 7@==@H E96 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 AC@46DD] !@CE=2?5 2EE@C?6J w2CC:D@? {2EE@[ H9@ C6AC6D6?ED s6J6EE6[ $>:E9 2?5 y@?6D[ HC@E6 :? 2? 2?DH6C E@ !rrVD C6BF6DE E92E E96 4@==686 :D :?5665 2 DE2E6 286?4J 2?5 >FDE 7@==@H E96 AC@A6C AC@46DD E@ 6?24E @C 492?86 :ED CF=6D]k^Am
kAmQ!rr :D DF3;64E E@ ;F5:4:2= C6G:6H E9C@F89 HC:ED @7 C6G:6H[ H9:49 6IAC6DD=J 5@ ?@E 2AA=J E@ 286?4:6D[Q !rrVD 2EE@C?6JD HC@E6 :? 2? `g\A286 C6DA@?D6 7:=65 $6AE] ad] Q$49@@= 5:DEC:4ED WH9:49 2C6 DF3DE2?E:2==J D:>:=2C E@ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 5:DEC:4EDX 2C6 ?@E 286?4:6D] ~E96C DE2EFE6D DE2E6 E92E 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 2?5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 ?@E A2CE @7 QDE2E6 8@G6C?>6?EQ 2E 2==] p?5 :E 92D =@?8 366? F?56CDE@@5 3J E96 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=VD @77:46 2?5 3J =2H>2<6CD E92E 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D[ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ @E96C DA64:2= 8@G6C?>6?E 3@5:6D[ 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED 2C6 ?@E Q286?4:6DQ 7@C AFCA@D6D @7 E96 Wp5>:?:DEC2E:G6 !C@465FC6D p4EX]Qk^Am
kAm$>:E9 D4@7765 2E !rrVD ?@E\2\DE2E6\286?4J 5676?D6] Q%92E 5676?D6 H:== ?@E 7=J]Qk^Am
kAm$E2E6 =2H C676CD E@ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 2D AF3=:4 :?DE:EFE:@?D E92E 2=D@ 2C6 A@=:E:42= DF35:G:D:@?D @7 E96 DE2E6[ $>:E9 HC@E6[ >2<:?8 E96> E2?E2>@F?E E@ 286?4:6D C6BF:C65 E@ 7@==@H DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D H96? 6?24E:?8 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 CF=6D]k^Am
kAmQ%96 =:@?VD D92C6 @7 6G6CJ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686VD 3F586E 4@>6D 7C@> E2IA2J6CDV A@4<6ED[Q 96 HC@E6] Q(96? DF65 :? 7656C2= 4@FCE[ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D :?G2C:23=J 4=2:> E@ 36 VDE2E6 286?4:6DV 2?5 E96C67@C6 6?E:E=65 E@ :>>F?:EJ 7C@> DF:E] x? E96 A6?5:?8 42D6D[ !rr :D 5676?5:?8 3J 4=2:>:?8 :E :D V?@E 2 QDE2E6 286?4JV H:E9:? E96 >62?:?8 @7 ~C68@?VD CF=6>2<:?8 =2HD]k^Am
kAmQ}6:E96C !rr ?@C 2?J @E96C 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 :? ~C68@? 92D 6G6C 7:=65 2 ?@E:46 @7 AC@A@D65 CF=6>2<:?8 H:E9 E96 ~C68@? D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6] xE :D 2 D25 4@>>6?E @? ~C68@?VD 65F42E:@?2= DJDE6> E92E !rr 2?5 @E96C 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 92G6 72:=65 E@ 6>A=@J E96 C6BF:C65 AF3=:4 CF=6>2<:?8 AC@46DD E@ 4C62E6 E96 7C2>6H@C< E96J @A6C2E6 @?] xEVD 2=D@ 2 D25 4@>>6?E @? ~C68@?VD =682= AC@76DD:@? E92E 2 ;2:=9@FD6 =2HJ6C :D E96 7:CDE A6CD@? E@ A@:?E @FE E96 @3G:@FD E@ E96D6 4@==686D]Qk^Am
kAmVs:776C6?E 3@?6D E@ A:4<Vk^Am
kAm{682= 492==6?86D 2C6 @=5 92E E@ $>:E9[ H9@ 92D DA6?E 9:D A2DE bc J62CD 369:?5 32CD 7:=:?8 5@K6?D @7 =2HDF:ED 2?5 2AA62=D :? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 4@FCE] w:D Q;2:=9@FD6 =2HJ6CQ H@C< :?4=F56D 32EE=:?8 E96 DE2E6 A2C@=6 3@2C5[ H9:49 56?:65 9:> A2C@=6 D6G6C2= E:>6D[ 2?5 7:89E:?8 H2C56?D 2?5 @E96C DE2E6 @77:4:2=D @G6C CF=6D 2?5 AC:D@? 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm$>:E9VD 42D6D 92G6 366? :? &]$] s:DEC:4E r@FCE 2?5 E96 hE9 r:C4F:E r@FCE @7 pAA62=D] ~?6 @7 9:D 42D6D 2=D@ H2D @? 2 5@4<6E E92E 4@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65 3J E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE]k^Am
kAm$>:E9 92D 2 <66? :?E6C6DE :? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =2H[ D@ :EVD ?@E F?FDF2= 7@C 9:> E@ E2<6 DE2E6 286?4:6D E@ 4@FCE[ {2EE@ D2:5] QxEVD @C5:?2CJ H:E9 9:>] w6VD 2? F?FDF2= A6CD@?[ x 8F6DD[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 ?F>36C @7 42D6D 96 7:=6D] x 5@?VE E9:?< E96C6 2C6 @E96C :?>2E6D H9@ 2C6 AFCDF:?8 D:>:=2C 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 492==6?86D]Qk^Am
kAm$:?46 E96 >:5\`hg_D[ $>:E9 92D 7:=65 >@C6 E92? `e_ =682= 42D6D :? DE2E6 4@FCED[ 23@FE d_ 492==6?8:?8 286?4J @C 3@2C5 CF=6D] %96 DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46VD %C:2= s:G:D:@?[ H9:49 92?5=6D >@DE :?>2E6\7:=65 42D6D[ D@>6E:>6D ;F88=6D d__ 42D6D 6249 J62C 562=:?8 H:E9 A@DE\4@?G:4E:@? 2AA62=D[ 4:G:= C:89ED 2?5 AC:D@? 4@?5:E:@?D[ D2:5 zC:DE:?2 t5>F?D@?[ 56A2CE>6?E DA@<6DH@>2?] %96 286?4J DA6?5D ?62C=J S`]g >:==:@? 2??F2==J 7@C 7:G6 =2HJ6CD E@ H@C< 7F==\E:>6 @? :?>2E6 =:E:82E:@?[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$>:E9 42==D E9:D DF>>6CVD =682= 492==6?86D QE96 @A6?:?8 D2=G@ :? D@>6E9:?8 >F49 =2C86C 2?5 566A6C[Q 9:?E:?8 E92E >@C6 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 42D6D 4@F=5 36 7:=65 H:E9 E96 4@FCE @7 2AA62=D]k^Am
kAm(9J D@ >2?J A6E:E:@?D 7@4FD:?8 @? !rr CF=6Dn Qs:776C6?E A6@A=6 92G6 5:776C6?E A6CD@?2= :?E6C6DED :? C6=2E:@? E@ 9@H 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 4@?5F4E 3FD:?6DD[Q $>:E9 HC@E6] Qs:776C6?E A6@A=6 92G6 5:776C6?E 3@?6D E@ A:4< H:E9 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 5F6 E@ :?5:G:5F2= A6CD@?2= 6IA6C:6?46D]Qk^Am
kAmtG6? :7 E96 A6E:E:@?D 2C6 DF446DD7F=[ 2?5 E96 4@FCE @C56CD !rr E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 DE2E6 CF=6>2<:?8 AC@46DD[ $>:E9 HC@E6 E92E 2?J 492?86D @C :>AC@G6>6?ED 56A6?5 @? DEF56?ED H:==:?8 E@ ;F>A :?E@ E96 :DDF6]k^Am
kAmQ%96? :E H:== 36 FA E@ !rrVD DEF56?ED E@ DE6A FA[ C6BF6DE E92E !rr 4@?5F4E AF3=:4 962C:?8D @G6C E96 AC@A@D65 CF=6D[ 2?5 E6== !rr H92E E9@D6 CF=6D D9@F=5 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E :?4=F56[Q 96 HC@E6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mz6G:? w2C56?k^DEC@?8m6>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i<6G:?92C56?oA@CE=2?5EC:3F?6]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<UBF@EjU8Ej<6G:?92C56?oA@CE=2?5EC:3F?6]4@>U=Ej^2U8Eju@==@H FD @? U=Ej2 9C67lUBF@Ej9EEAi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^UBF@Ej E2C86ElQm%H:EE6Ck^2m':D:E &D @? k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<UBF@EjU8Eju2463@@<U=Ej^2U8EjU=Ej^AU8EjU=Ej^AU8EjQmk^2mk^Am