Federal Civil Rights Case Moves Toward Final Resolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWPORT, Ore. — October 8, 2026 — The federal civil-rights case involving Lincoln County Commissioner Casey Miller and Lincoln County has reached settlement following an earlier federal court preliminary injunction requiring restoration of Miller’s regular rights and prerogatives as a county commissioner.
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken previously ordered that Miller be restored to the ordinary access, communications, meetings and other functions of office enjoyed by a Lincoln County commissioner.
The parties have now executed a settlement agreement intended to make those protections permanent.
On October 7, the parties filed Document 43, a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.
The stipulated filing provides that Miller is to be returned to:
“the enjoyment of the regular rights and prerogatives of his office as a Lincoln County Commissioner immediately, including access to a physical office in the customary location and physical access to the customary building(s), as well as meetings or communications to which the holder of his office would be regularly invited or included, commensurate with the practice prior to September 18, 2024, and identical to the rights and prerogatives of any other Lincoln County Commissioner, for the length of Plaintiff’s term as a Lincoln County Commissioner.”
The stipulated order also provides that the federal court would retain jurisdiction for purposes of construction, modification and enforcement of the permanent injunction.
Under the executed settlement agreement, CIS Trust agreed to pay $64,000 in attorney fees to Miller’s attorneys. The agreement provides for dismissal of the federal lawsuit with prejudice following receipt of that payment.
The settlement resolves disputed claims and expressly does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or liability by any party.
Miller said his focus now is on moving forward constructively and strengthening the systems that govern how Lincoln County makes decisions.
“I pursued this case so I could do the job I was elected to do. The most important question now is what we learn from it.”
“Good government requires clear authority, transparent procedures, equal access to the tools of public office, and dependable ways to resolve disagreements without turning them into personal conflicts.”
“The court result establishes the boundary. The governance work is what we do with it.”
Miller said the experience has highlighted the need to examine whether County policies clearly identify who has authority, how elected officials obtain information and administrative support, how agenda and operational disputes are resolved, and how future disagreements can be addressed before they become institutional crises.
“I have spent considerable time examining my own decisions and conduct during this experience. I believe healthy public institutions should be willing to examine themselves as well. Accountability should apply to individuals and institutions alike.”
“The purpose of learning from what happened is not retaliation or humiliation. It is prevention. We should have clear authority, fair processes, reliable information and workable ways to resolve disagreements before they reach this point.”
Miller said he is also reviewing the historical County record concerning how the commissioner’s office functioned before September 18, 2024, because the stipulated permanent-injunction language expressly uses that earlier practice as part of the standard for restoring the rights and prerogatives of the office.
“My goal now is to make sure the resolution works as intended, improve the systems that need improvement, restore trust where we can, and get back to the work the public elected us to do.”
“The lawsuit can end without the learning ending.”
CASE INFORMATION
Miller v. Lincoln County et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Case No. 6:26-cv-00499-AA
LEGAL / CASE INQUIRIES
Beth Creighton
Counsel for Casey Miller
Creighton & Rose, PC
beth@civilrightspdx.com
STATEMENT / MEDIA INQUIRIES
Casey Miller
casey.mllr@gmail.com
541-270-6796