OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna says he’s ready to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court that the release of names of initiative and referendum supporters is constitutional.
The nation’s highest court is holding a hearing on April 28 on whether the release of more than 138,000 names on petitions who supported a domestic partnership referendum in November would chill the First Amendment rights of those who signed them.
McKenna said Monday he will leave Tuesday for Washington, D.C. for final preparations before the hearing.
Protect Marriage Washington unsuccessfully opposed a new law giving gay couples expanded rights. The group wants to shield petition-signers’ names from public release.
The court’s ruling would affect all referenda and initiatives.
