KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Judge halts release of Wash. referendum signatures
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Associated Press - July 29, 2009 5:55 PM ET
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - A federal judge is halting the public release of petitions supporting a gay-partnership referendum.
U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle agreed to the temporary restraining order Wednesday, in a case that questions whether Washington's open-government laws could discourage free speech.
The case centers on Referendum 71, which would ask voters to approve or reject expanded partnership rights for gay couples.
The names of everyone who signed R-71 petitions are publicly available under state law, and a gay-rights group is planning to post all of the petition signers' names online.
But the R-71 campaign says that could lead to harassment. The state didn't oppose the restraining order, but it will defend the public records law in court.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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