BIG SKY SCIENTIFIC LLC v. BENNETTS (2019)

MEMORANDUM *

Big Sky Scientific LLC (Big Sky) challenges the district court’s denial of its motion for a preliminary injunction. It argues that the district court erred in concluding it was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claim that federal law prohibits the seizure of a shipment of hemp it was transporting through Idaho from Oregon to Colorado. Defendants Idaho State Police, Ada County, and Jan Bennetts, the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, argue that the district court abused its discretion in not abstaining from this case under Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746, 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971), because there is an in rem forfeiture proceeding pending in Idaho state court in which Big Sky can raise its federal claims. We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s abstention decision. McIntyre v. McIntyre, 771 F.2d 1316, 1319 (9th Cir. 1985).

Younger abstention is appropriate when “(1) there is ‘an ongoing state judicial proceeding’; (2) the proceeding ‘implicates important state interests’; (3) there is ‘an adequate opportunity in the state proceedings to raise constitutional challenges’; and (4) the requested relief ‘seeks to enjoin’ or has ‘the practical effect of enjoining’ the ongoing state judicial proceeding.” Arevalo v. Hennessy, 882 F.3d 763, 765 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting ReadyLink Healthcare, Inc. v. State Comp. Ins. Fund, 754 F.3d 754, 758 (9th Cir. 2014)) (alterations adopted).

We reverse the district court’s decision not to apply Younger abstention. Our decision is based in part on (1) Defendants’ counsels’ representation at oral argument that Idaho will immediately move to lift the stay in the in rem forfeiture action, and (2) the assumption that, apart from any criminal proceedings, the Idaho District Court will proceed expeditiously with the in rem action, including Big Sky’s challenge to Idaho’s interpretation of the federal Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (known as the 2018 Farm Bill), and Big Sky’s Commerce Clause claims. The panel will retain jurisdiction over further proceedings in this matter.

REVERSED.