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Doe v. Reed

Same-sex marriage referendum: Supreme Court justices voice skepticism about keeping signatures private

donal brown April 29, 2010

In hearing arguments about keeping referendum signatures private in a referendum to repeal Washington’s domestic partnership law, several justices appeared unsympathetic to arguments of the attorney opposing making the signatures public. -db Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press April 28, 2010 By Mara Zimmerman The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical of the argument that signatures on a referendum to repeal Washington state’s domestic partnership law should be kept private. The court heard

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Petition-signing a public act says Washington State’s Supreme Court brief

FAC April 5, 2010

Is petition signing a private act? In advance of the April 21 U.S. Supreme Court hearing, Washington State conservatives have filed a brief calling it private; recently the Washington State AG filed a counter argument claiming it is a public act. The outcome could have impacts far beyond the original controversy, which started over petitions signed in support of a state referendum on gay rights. State to U.S. Supreme Court: R-71 signatures are public Seattle

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Supreme Court to decide if petition-signers can remain anonymous

donal brown January 26, 2010

The United States has a long tradition of allowing anonymous speech in the political arena, but there are also serious concerns about transparency and accountability. The Supreme Court must decide whether Washington state officials can release names on a petition seeking a referendum on repealing the state’s domestic-partnership rights. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January 24, 2010 By Gene Policinski “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would

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Internet raises stakes in cases pitting public disclosure against right to privacy

donal brown January 19, 2010

In Doe v. Reed, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh the right to privacy under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech and association against the need for open government and transparency in public elections. -DB First Amendment Center Commentary January 19, 2010 By Tony Mauro WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court has agreed to review a case that presents the classic tension between public disclosure and personal privacy but with the added twist

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Domestic partnership law: Supreme Court takes case on privacy for petition signers

donal brown January 19, 2010

The Supreme Court agreed last week to consider whether the First Amendment guarantees the right of privacy to those signing ballot-initiative petitions. -DB The New York Times January 16, 2010 By Adam Liptak WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether the First Amendment requires that the names of people who sign ballot-initiative petitions be kept secret. As in the court’s decision on Wednesday to block the broadcasting of the trial

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