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Tag: U.S. Supreme Court

1960 petition signature gatherers
Paid petition signature gathering in Washington: What’s legal and why

Paid petition signature gathering in Washington: What’s legal and why

A recent news report in the Everett Herald noted that June is a prime petition-gathering month for four statewide initiatives now in circulation. According to the story, workers collecting signatures to put a referendum on Seattle’s new job tax on the November ballot are being paid $6 per signature, and anyone who gets 75 or more signatures a day gets an entry in a drawing for a four-country trip to Europe. “Too good to be true? Or legal? Maybe,” the…

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Doe v. Reed: Appeals Court upholds R-71 petition releases

Doe v. Reed: Appeals Court upholds R-71 petition releases

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a challenge to Washington’s policy of releasing initiative and referendum petitions, specifically the Referendum 71 signatures submitted to force a public vote on the “everything but marriage” law three years ago. Secretary of State Sam Reed said he was pleased with the decision and that it honors the state voters’ commitment to the Public Records Act and transparency in government.  Reed said he hopes the challengers will let the decision stand, now…

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Top 2 upheld in court: voters win

Top 2 upheld in court: voters win

Washington’s popular Top 2 Primary system has cleared its final legal hurdle. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear the challenge by Washington Democrats and Libertarians on the Top 2. This apparently is the final word on litigation that has been under way since voters overwhelmingly approved the primary through an initiative in 2004. Go here to view the cases that the Supreme Court is refusing to hear. (The Top 2 appeal case is found on…

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U.S. high court declines to block R-71 petitions

U.S. high court declines to block R-71 petitions

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected efforts by foes of gay-marriage to block Washington state from releasing Referendum 71 petitions while an appeal is underway in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court gave no reasoning for denying the motion by Protect Marriage Washington to issue an injunction.  The order indicates that Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is responsible for motions arising from the 9th Circuit, referred the request to the full court, which did not support the motion. The…

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Challengers seek Supreme Court order against R-71 releases

Challengers seek Supreme Court order against R-71 releases

UPDATE: Protect Marriage Washington has asked U.S. Supreme Court Justce Anthony Kennedy to block release of Referendum 71 petitions while an appeal is underway in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. While that is pending, Washington’s Office of Secretary of State will suspend release of further R-71 petition DVDs.  The office has no further information on the timing of Justice Kennedy’s handling of the matter. Earlier, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals  rejected the bid by Protect Marriage Washington to…

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High court rejects challenge of campaign reporting law

High court rejects challenge of campaign reporting law

Secretary of State Sam Reed welcomes the U.S. Supreme Court’s action today that upholds  Washington’s voter-approved campaign disclosure law. Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office defended the Public Disclosure Commission, the agency that administers campaign finance disclosure laws, in a challenge brought by Human Life of Washington, a “pro-life,” anti-abortion group.  The organization challenged the state’s requirement for disclosure of donors of over $25 for or against ballot propositions – in their case, opposing Governor Gardner’s successful initiative on assisted suicide/”death…

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Thurston judge OKs release of initiative petitions

Thurston judge OKs release of initiative petitions

Judge Richard Hicks of Thurston County Superior Court has just lifted the ban on releasing initiative petitions under the state’s Public Records Act.  His decision does not allow release of Referendum 71 petitions, however, since those are still the focus of a federal lawsuit brought by foes of same-sex marriage, and the federal judge has released a ban on release at this point. State Elections Director Nick Handy said petitions will be released as soon as possible, and that he…

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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 petitions: Attorneys press case to high court

R-71 petitions: Attorneys press case to high court

In the run-up to the U.S.  Supreme Court’s April 28 hearing on public release of initiative and referendum petitions, the state is underscoring that the voter-approved Public Records Act requires release.  The public’s demand for transparency and accountability of the government is “compelling and substantial,” attorneys for the Secretary of State said in a brief submitted to the high court on Thursday. The thick 60-page brief is a reply to the efforts of Protect Marriage Washington (foes of the state’s…

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WA asks appeals bench to suspend felon voter ruling

WA asks appeals bench to suspend felon voter ruling

Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to suspend a ruling that Washington must allow felons to register to vote while still serving their sentence. The hold would maintain the status quo — a ban on voting by felons in prison or on community supervision — while the state attempts to overturn the decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. Jeff Even, deputy solicitor general representing Reed, the governor and…

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