US Supreme Court Justice Puts Hold on Release of Referendum 71 Signatures

With voters beginning to decide the fate of Referendum 71, a member of the nation’s highest court on Monday entered the legal fight on whether those who helped put the controversial measure on the ballot will keep their identities secret. U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy reimposed a federal ban on releasing the names of petition signers lifted last week by a 9th Circuit Court federal appeals panel. Sponsors of Referendum 71, who want the names kept secret, asked Kennedy last week to intervene. State lawyers filed a 39-page response Monday arguing there was no basis to overturn the appeals court decision. Full Story from Herald.net: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091020/NEWS01/710209876&news01ad=1

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Washington Judge Blocks Release of All Petition Signatures, Including R71, Until Full 9th Circuit Ruling Released - Hearing Tuesday

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks has scheduled a hearing Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. to hear the state's request that the names of people who signed petitions seeking to have a new, expanded gay rights law overturned be made public. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday granted an immediate stay and reversed a lower court's preliminary injunction blocking the release of Referendum 71 petitions. Last month a federal judge blocked the release of names of people who signed R-71. U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle said releasing the names could violate the First Amendment rights of those who signed petitions to get R-71 on the ballot. The secretary of state's office criticized the ruling, saying it was "a step away from open government." Full Story from the Seattle PI: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/182328.asp?from=blog_last3

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Federal Appeals Court Says Referendum 71 Signatures Must Be Released

Protect Marriage Washington, which collected the signatures to get Referendum 71 on the November ballot, said it will appeal Thursday's federal appeals-court ruling that cleared the way for public release of the names of those who signed petitions for the measure. "That particular group of judges saw the law one way; we'll take it to the next group of judges that may have the opportunity to see it the correct way," said Stephen Pidgeon, attorney for the conservative religious organization. Referendum 71 will ask voters to approve or reject the Legislature's latest expansion of the state's domestic-partnership law, which grants marriage-like benefits to gay and some senior couples. Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010072420_webref7115m.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Panel May Rule on Release of Referendum 71 Petition Signers' Names in Next Few Days

The dicey question over whether the Secretary of State can release the names and addresses of those who signed petitions to get Referendum 71 on the November ballot is now in the hands of the three-member panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ref 71 will ask voters on Nov. 3 to either approve or reject the state's latest expansion of the domestic partnership law, which grants marriage-like benefits to registered gay and some senior couples. Attorneys for protect Marriage Washington, which gathered enough signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot, told the three-judge panel that petition signatures are protected free speech under the First Amendment and as such should be shielded from public release. Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010065743_the_dicey_question_over_whethe.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.