Yesterday, Basic Rights Oregon, Jeana Frazzini (BRO’s executive director) and two pregnant lesbians in committed relationships filed to intervene in the federal lawsuit over domestic partnerships. The judge had two weeks to decide whether to allow them to become a party to the case. He didn’t waste any time. This just in, from BRO spokesperson Karynn Fish:

On Wednesday, attorneys for Basic Rights Oregon filed a motion to intervene in the Lemons v. Bradbury lawsuit. This morning, we learned the the judge has granted our motion. Basic Rights Oregon will now have standing in the case, enabling us to ensure that the voices of hundreds of families and committed couples are heard before the court.

The case has now broadened, from one that was technical and focused on election procedures, to one that’ll touch on the importance of domestic partnerships to so many couples around the state.