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…