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Tag: Attorney General Rob McKenna

‘Tis the season to give wisely

‘Tis the season to give wisely

With the holiday season now upon us, many people are thinking about making donations to one or more charities. And of course, many of us have been, or will be, getting solicitations from commercial fundraising organizations to give money to various causes. If you’re thinking about opening your wallet in the name of charity, make sure to give wisely. That was the main message that Secretary Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna had for everyone as they held a news…

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McKenna, Reed challenge felon voting decision

McKenna, Reed challenge felon voting decision

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, backed by Secretary of State Sam Reed, will personally argue in federal appeals court next Wednesday for reversal of a a widely criticized decision that tossed out the state’s ban on felon voting. McKenna and Reed held a joint news conference Friday before the attorney general headed to San Francisco to prepare for oral arguments before an 11-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel of the court, in a surprise…

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9th Circuit will re-open WA felon voting case

9th Circuit will re-open WA felon voting case

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to a Sept. 21 re-hearing of  a challenge of Washington’s longstanding ban on voting by felons.  The nationally prominent case could be decided by the appeals judges or end up in the U.S. Supreme Court to set a nationwide policy. An 11-judge panel will re-hear the case that three of its own judges had decided in favor of the inmates earlier this year. That much-criticized ruling held that Washington violates the federal…

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R-71 public records update: Release ban continues

R-71 public records update: Release ban continues

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle has ruled that Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed   will continue to be blocked from releasing Referendum 71 signatures while challengers mount a federal court case that aims to keep the 138,000 names under wraps permanently. The judge, in a brief hearing in his courtroom in Tacoma on Wednesday, agreed to the Reed’s request for an expedited hearing schedule. The challengers, Protect Marriage Washington, will release a list of its witnesses so the Attorney General…

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R-71 case: Reed, McKenna delighted with ruling

R-71 case: Reed, McKenna delighted with ruling

Washington’s big win in the Supreme Court is great news for the cause of open government and transparency, say Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna. Ironically, the situation that prompted the federal case, still remains uncertain. Protect Marriage Washington, a group that sought to overturn the state’s new domestic partnership law last fall, sued Reed in an effort to block him from releasing petitions, as is his policy under terms of the voter-approved Public Records Act. The…

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9th Circuit will rehear WA felon voter case

9th Circuit will rehear WA felon voter case

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to rehear a challenge of Washington’s longstanding ban on voting by felons. Today’s development, handed down in a one-paragraph, three-line order signed by Chief Judge  Alex Kozinski, said the circuit court judges have agreed to rehear the case. No timeline was specified, but Kozinki and 10 judges drawn at random from the circuit will hear the case. Just a few months ago, in January, a three-judge panel from the circuit handed down…

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Reed, McKenna optimistic about R-71 case

Reed, McKenna optimistic about R-71 case

Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed emerged from the U.S. Supreme Court today optimistic that the high court will allow Washington and other states to treat initiative and referendum petitions as releasable public records. McKenna, making his third appearance before the court, and Reed, the state’s chief elections officer, both said they counted a majority of the justices who seemed sympathetic to Washington’s argument that the vote-approved Public Records Act requires release of petitions to those…

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R-71 petition case drawing national attention

R-71 petition case drawing national attention

A Washington state public-records case involving initiative and referendum petitions is one of two big cases headed to the U.S. Supreme Court from the West in April.  Both are drawing national attention because they involve tricky First Amendment issues, political participation, and the right of government to lay down rules for non-discrimination and for open and transparent government. Both cases arise from our 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. One deals with whether a law school may deny recognition to a…

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