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Tag: public records

Federal judges OK release of R-71 petitions

Federal judges OK release of R-71 petitions

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has just lifted the ban on Washington releasing Referendum 71 petitions. A three-judge panel handed a clear victory to the Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna, who had vigorously argued that the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act requires the state to treat initiative and referendum petition sheets as a releasable public record. The court, in a brief three-page order released from Pasadena, Calif., said it is reversing Tacoma-based U.S. District…

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Thurston judge halts release of petitions

Thurston judge halts release of petitions

Judge Richard Hicks of Thurston County Superior Court has just granted a temporary restraining order blocking the state from releasing initiative petitions under the state’s Public Records Act.  His decision came Wednesday in response to a lawsuit brought by initiative activist Tim Eyman. Hicks said he wants to preserve the status quo while awaiting a ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considering whether to continue blocking release of petitions submitted for Referendum 71, the domestic-partnership law…

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R-71: Stay tuned for federal court decision on petitions

R-71: Stay tuned for federal court decision on petitions

Should Washington officials be allowed to release Referendum 71 petition sheets? That touchy issue is in the hands of a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., following a hearing this morning. Deputy Solicitor General Bill Collins, who represented the state, reported a very well-prepared panel and a “very lively” discussion of the issues. He said the court has taken the case under advisement without indicating when – or how – they will rule. Since the appeals…

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Election official: Citizen legislating is public business

Election official: Citizen legislating is public business

Initiative activist Tim Eyman has been rebuffed in his attempt to overturn the Office of Secretary of State’s policy of treating initiative and referendum petitions as releasable public records. That question is, of course, being litigated in federal court as we speak (or blog).  Social conservatives who oppose the state’s new domestic partnership law have secured a federal court order blocking release of Referendum 71 petitions. Secretary Sam Reed, backed by the counsel of Attorney General Rob McKenna, has headed…

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Ninth Circuit announces Doe v. Reed hearing dates

Ninth Circuit announces Doe v. Reed hearing dates

The Attorney General’s Office informed us Tuesday that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has announced the schedule for the appeal filed by the state in Doe v. Reed, which deals with the issue of blocking the release of the names and addresses of the Referendum 71 petition signers. The appeal’s oral argument will take place Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. in Pasadena, Calif.  Here is the order that came from the Ninth Circuit.

The disclosure history of petition sheets

The disclosure history of petition sheets

On Wednesday, initiative king Tim Eyman distributed an e-mail to his supporters,the media, legislators and Gov. Gregoire in which he criticized Secretary of State Sam Reed and officials in our office regarding our office’s history on our policy regarding the release of initiative or referendum petition sheets. The following sets the record straight on this matter:  After Washington voters passed Initiative 276 in 1972 that created the Public Records Act, various Secretary of State administrations took the position, from 1973…

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State to appeal Judge Settle’s R-71 ruling

State to appeal Judge Settle’s R-71 ruling

As many already know, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle yesterday issued a preliminary injunction   prohibiting release of the names and addresses of those who signed Referendum 71 petitions, despite public records requests for them. The Attorney General’s Office announced today that the State will appeal Judge Settle’s ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. We do not yet know the timeline for the appeal. We support the decision to appeal this case (Doe v. Reed). Our…

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Federal judge continues ban on public release of R-71 petitions

Federal judge continues ban on public release of R-71 petitions

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle is continuing the ban on public release of Referendum 71 petitions at least temporarily, possibly until Sept. 11 or beyond. Settle says supporters of the state’s new “everything but marriage” law may see the names and addresses of people who signed the petitions, for possible use in a Thurston County Superior Court case that attempts to block the public vote via R-71.  The group may not make the information public, he said. The closely watched…

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UPDATE: R-71 processing begins, disclosure challenged

UPDATE: R-71 processing begins, disclosure challenged

State election crews have begun counting the signatures submitted by sponsors of Referendum 71, the effort to force a public vote in November on the state’s newly expanded domestic partnership law.  Sponsors, called Protect Washington Families, meanwhile, are taking the state to court to try to block public release of the names of people who signed their petitions. After state Archives completed microfilming of 9,359 petition sheets, about 20 crew members began counting the raw number of voter signatures submitted by…

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‘Unredacted’: New Clint Eastwood flick?

‘Unredacted’: New Clint Eastwood flick?

Nope, silly, it’s the Washington attorney general’s new online resource to help you navigate in the world of public records and open public meetings. AG Rob McKenna, mixing his metaphors, calls it “a roadmap for pulling back the curtain to find out what elected officials are up to.”   The new website, as well as an online open government manual, help citizens know the ins-and-outs of public meetings, how to halt an illegal closed meeting, how to obtain public records for a state or…

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