At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Connelly denied the injunction, allowing the rodeo to proceed as planned, and instructed the parties to submit supplemental briefing on one of the legal issues raised in the lawsuit – what legal test should be used to determine whether there are “unusual circumstances” for purposes of CEQA that would disqualify the rodeo from the type of CEQA exemption adopted by the Fair Board.

The last briefs will be filed by October 25, 2011, after which Judge Connelly will issue a ruling on the petition for a writ of mandate.