Federal judge rules for disclosing signers of Washington anti-gay petition

A federal judge ruled that Protect Marriage Washington (PMW) must disclose the anti-gay petitions with signatures from a 2009 campaign to overturn the state’s same-sex domestic partner law. The judge wrote that the PMW had not demonstrated that the signers of the petition would suffer threats, harassment or reprisals when their names are published. -db [...]

High court privacy ruling finds way into sunshine law case

Last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on the privacy of petition signers in state ballot initiatives is already being invoked in the broader context of defending state sunshine and open meeting laws. The National Law Journal July 15, 2010 By Tony Mauro The state of Texas cited the decision Doe v. Reed (pdf) earlier this week [...]

Same-sex marriage referendum: Supreme Court justices voice skepticism about keeping signatures private

In hearing arguments about keeping referendum signatures private in a referendum to repeal Washington’s domestic partnership law, several justices appeared unsympathetic to arguments of the attorney opposing making the signatures public. -db Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press April 28, 2010 By Mara Zimmerman The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical of the [...]

Petition-signing a public act says Washington State’s Supreme Court brief

Is petition signing a private act? In advance of the April 21 U.S. Supreme Court hearing, Washington State conservatives have filed a brief calling it private; recently the Washington State AG filed a counter argument claiming it is a public act. The outcome could have impacts far beyond the original controversy, which started over petitions [...]

Supreme Court to decide if petition-signers can remain anonymous

The United States has a long tradition of allowing anonymous speech in the political arena, but there are also serious concerns about transparency and accountability. The Supreme Court must decide whether Washington state officials can release names on a petition seeking a referendum on repealing the state’s domestic-partnership rights. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January [...]

Internet raises stakes in cases pitting public disclosure against right to privacy

In Doe v. Reed, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh the right to privacy under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and association against the need for open government and transparency in public elections. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January 19, 2010 By Tony Mauro WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has agreed [...]

Domestic partnership law: Supreme Court takes case on privacy for petition signers

The Supreme Court agreed last week to consider whether the First Amendment guarantees the right of privacy to those signing ballot-initiative petitions. -DB The New York Times January 16, 2010 By Adam Liptak WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether the First Amendment requires that the names of people who [...]