Protect Marriage Washington Asks Supreme Court to Continue to Protect Petition Signers
1 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807-3510
www.jamesmadisoncenter.org
PRESS RELEASE
Friday November 6, 2009
Contact: James Bopp, Jr.
Phone: 812/232-2434; Fax: 812/235-3685;
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Protect Marriage Washington Asks Supreme Court to Continue to Protect Petition Signers
Today, Protect Marriage Washington asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case that seeks to prevent the release of the names of the 138,000 individuals who signed a Washington referendum petition in support of traditional marriage.
Before the November 2009 election, the Supreme Court prevented the Washington Secretary of State from releasing the names, addresses, and other personal information of over 138,000 individuals who signed the referendum in support of traditional marriage. Today’s filing asks the Supreme Court to continue prevent the release of this personal information, because of the ongoing threats, harassment, and intimidation supporters of traditional marriage are subject to.
Several groups in Washington continue to seek the names of the 138,000 petition signers, so that they can place the personal information of the petition signers on the Internet, where the information will be used to harass and intimidate those in Washington who support traditional marriage.
James Bopp, Jr., lead counsel for Protect Marriage Washington, the group that is asking the Court to prevent the release of the names, stated, “When it ordered the State not to release the personal information of the petition signers before the election, the Supreme Court took the first step in allowing those who support traditional marriage to exercise their First Amendment right to speak freely and not be subject to compelled public disclosure of their identity and beliefs by the government. We are now asking the Supreme Court to take the next step, and put permanent safeguards in place to protect those who wish to support traditional marriage, and all other speakers, from being subject to harassment and intimidation in the future.” Mr. Bopp continued, “Those who support traditional marriage have seen their personal property destroyed and have been subject to death threats because of their beliefs. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to prevent this from recurring in future elections by preventing the government from compelling citizens to disclose their identities and beliefs to the public.”
The petition to the Supreme Court is available at the Madison Center website, http://www.jamesmadisoncenter.org/.
The results of the November 2009 election in Washington remain too close to call.
James Bopp, Jr. has a national federal and state election law practice. He is General Counsel for the James Madison Center for Free Speech and former Co-Chairman of the Election Law Subcommittee of the Federalist Society.
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