Multnomah County District Attorney's Office Comments On 9th Circuit Ruling - 01/29/26

We have had several inquiries about the decision today by the Federal Court of Appeals. 

Here is our response- if you need to quote someone please quote me or a spokesperson for the office etc:

This is a procedural case that is prone to misunderstanding. A person filing a lawsuit can allege any fact they want in their complaint. At the motion to dismiss stage, the court must assume that all facts in the complaint are true. The plaintiff in this case alleged that former DDA Kalbaugh knowingly made false statements in an arrest warrant application. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office believes this allegation to be false and has every confidence that former DDA Kalbaugh will prevail on the merits if plaintiffs seek to refile their claim. Neither the District Court nor the Ninth Circuit has found that DDA Kalbaugh knowingly made false statements. Today’s decision only states that, if plaintiffs wish to pursue this matter, they can attempt to prove their allegations. We firmly believe they will not be able to do so, because that is not what happened in this case.

Pat Dooris

Director of Communications

Multnomah County District Attorney's Office