ADF asks Md. court to let voters decide whether special “gender identity” protections are retained
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4541
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE
June 2, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
ADF asks Md. court to let the people be heard
ADF attorneys file brief asserting voters’ right to vote on law
granting special protections under “gender identity”
BALTIMORE — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a friend-of-the-court brief Monday asking a Maryland court to protect the valid petition signatures of Montgomery County voters. Representing a citizen voter coalition, ADF attorneys are arguing against a lawsuit filed by a group of self-described homosexual and transsexual plaintiffs that seeks to disenfranchise over 900,000 Montgomery County residents from having their say on a controversial “gender identity” bill.
“The right of citizens to have their votes count on a significant referendum should not be attacked through desperate and baseless legal action,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks. “The petitions are valid and have the needed number of signatures. The fact that this suit was filed long after the statute of limitations ran out demonstrates the lengths to which some will go to muzzle the voice of Montgomery County voters. Let the people decide.”
“Citizens are hurt when judges take away their votes. We’re hopeful that the court will respect the rights of the citizens to vote and preserve the democratic process in Montgomery County,” Nimocks added.
After the citizen voter coalition Maryland Citizens for Responsible Government Corporation submitted more than enough signatures to sustain the referendum petition, the Montgomery County Board of Elections certified the petitions for the Nov. 4 ballot. After the time for challenging the petition expired, the plaintiffs filed their lawsuit contending that almost 50 percent of the valid signatures of registered voters should be thrown out (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4461).
“The political agenda of those filing this outrageous lawsuit shouldn’t be allowed to disenfranchise voters and exclude them from the democratic process,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Amy Smith. “ADF is asking the court to protect the interests of voters. We trust the court will acknowledge that the people are the ultimate authority.”
A copy of the friend-of-the-court brief filed in Doe v. Montgomery County Board of Elections is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/MCBE-AmicusBrief.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.