GMO protestors.jpg

Protesters gathered at the Oregon Capitol in July 2013 to help block a bill that would have pre-empted local ordinances against genetically modified seeds.

(Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian/2013)

MEDFORD -- A Josephine County judge has struck down a

pointing to a state law that prevents local anti-GMO rules.

Voters in two southern Oregon counties -- Jackson and Josephine --

in May 2014. The votes came seven months after state lawmakers approved a bill that prohibited local governments from regulating genetically engineered crops.

Lawmakers made an exception for Jackson County because its measure had already qualified for the ballot.

Opponents of GMOs in Josephine County went ahead with their own measure, saying they would let the courts decide if the vote is valid.

County Counsel Wally Hicks

he was not surprised by Judge Pat Wolke's decision. Hicks said the opinion relied strongly on a previous Oregon Supreme Court ruling that state law pre-empts local law when they are incompatible.

-- The Associated Press