ADF files appeal to restore Oregon voters’ right
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4417
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE
March 6, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020
ADF attorneys file appeal to restore voters’ rights
in Oregon
9th Circuit to hear case of disenfranchised Oregonians
PORTLAND, Ore. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have appealed a decision by a federal judge against disenfranchised petition signers who sought to put Oregon’s “domestic partnership” law before the voters. The case will now be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
“In America, every citizen’s voice counts. Government bureaucracy cannot be allowed to disenfranchise Oregon voters. One of their most important rights cannot be tossed aside,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks.
ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit, Lemons v. Bradbury, on behalf of several Oregonians after the Secretary of State and several different county clerks wrongfully rejected valid citizens’ petition signatures for Referendum 303, which would allow voters to decide the “domestic partnerships” issue. Many of these excluded citizens sought in person, but to no avail, to have their signatures validated.
At a hearing on Feb. 1, U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman lifted his preliminary injunction against the “domestic partnership” law, H.B. 2007, on which voters have never been heard (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4381). During the hearing, the judge stated that voters in Oregon have no legal right to have their petition signatures counted.
“Their signatures were genuine, and no legitimate reason existed to refuse to allow these registered voters to participate in the democratic process,” said Nimocks. “Our country is founded on the basic principle of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It should stay that way in Oregon.”
A copy of the petition to appeal to the 9th Circuit filed Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/LemonsAppeal.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
One Comment
Oregonian voters have not been disenfranchised. OR. already HAD 3 shots to rule on domestic partnership.
Certain Oregonians have tried three different times to prevent the domestic partnership law from going into effect, and each time they have failed.
* First, they tried to block passage of the domestic partnership law in the state Legislature last spring. After dozens of hours of testimony from everyday Oregonians as well as clergy, business and community leaders, the bill passed with bipartisan support.
* Next, anti-gay activists attempted to gather enough signatures to put the law on the ballot for repeal by voters. They had to gather only 55,179 valid signatures — the lowest number for any signature gathering effort — but Oregonians weren’t interested. The referendum effort failed.
* Finally, hoping to force a do-over, the Arizona-based lawyers (ADF) filed a case in federal court. The federal judge who heard the case, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled against the ADF and tossed out their lawsuit.
From the post at:
http://bridge-out.blogspot.com/2008/03/or-voters-had-3-shots-to-rule-on-dps.html
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