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The StrangerA case arising over an effort to repeal gay rights will begin its hearing before the federal Supreme Court on April 21, either confirming that petitions signatures should be public or shielding petition signers in anonymity. According to a docket published today, the court will examine whether "the First Amendment right to privacy in political speech, association, and belief requires strict scrutiny when a state compels public release of identifying information about petition signers," and whether "compelled public disclosure of identifying information about petition signers is narrowly tailored to a compelling interest."
Protect Marriage Washington, a group of Christian extremists that gathered signatures to put Referendum 71 on the ballot, is challenging state election rules that require the release of names and addresses of people who sign petitions. The referendum, which qualified for the ballot in summer, put the state's third domestic-partnership law for gay couples and straight seniors up for a public vote. (Voters upheld the law.) State rules mandate that the names of all petition information be released upon request, argued Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna in lower courts.
"We welcome this chance to go to the Supreme Court to defend Washington citizens’ desire for transparency and accountability in our government," Secretary of State Sam Reed wrote in a statement today. "The voters overwhelmingly approved the Public Records Act as part of the sunshine initiative back in 1972, and it has worked very well for four decades. Neither the Legislature nor the people have ever carved out an exemption to block release of petitions. We believe that we can have disclosure and openness, as well as protect our precious First Amendment rights and promote full participation in the initiative process and voting."
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http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/02/16/supreme-court-trial-on-r-71-begins-in-april