[EL] Doe v. Reed, more news

[Bonin, Adam C.]

Jim, as you know, the Court also notes that the financial contributors to the anti-gay efforts in Washington had long been disclosed, and they suffered no harm as a result:

Further still, [Protect Marriage Washington] secured donations to finance the campaign for R-71. It is undisputed that between May and November of 2009, PMW reported 857 contributions to its cause. The names and other personally identifying information of these donors has been public knowledge for over two years. Doe has had ample time and opportunity to contact these individuals, some of which likely signed the R-71 petition in addition to donating to PMW’s R-71 campaign. Even if none of these donors signed the R-71 petition, their experiences are far more closely related to the issues at hand than the random “evidence” supplied by Doe based on experiences of individuals around the country and the now stale experiences of those persons involved with Proposition 8. However, Doe has failed to supply sufficient, competent evidence that the publically known donors – as active supporters of R-71 – have experienced sufficient threats, harassment, or reprisals based on the disclosure of their information in connection to R-71 that would satisfy the reasonable probability standard that Doe must meet in this case.


Adam C. Bonin | Cozen O'Connor
1900 Market Street | Philadelphia, PA, 19103 | P: 215.665.2051 | F: 215.701.2321
abonin at cozen.com<mailto:abonin at cozen.com> | www.cozen.com

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of JBoppjr at aol.com
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 5:16 PM
To: rhasen at LAW.UCI.EDU; law-election at uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Doe v. Reed, more news

This statement in the court's opinion is the key to the court's erroneous decision:

"While Plaintiffs have not shown serious and widespread threats, harassment, or reprisals against the signers of R-71, or even that such activity would be reasonably likely to occur upon the publication of their names and contact information, they have developed substantial evidence that the public advocacy of traditional marriage as the exclusive definition of marriage, or the expansion of rights for same sex partners, has engendered hostility in this state, and risen to violence elsewhere, against some who have engaged in that advocacy."

The court required the Plaintiffs to prove that the signers of the R-71 petition were themselves subject to harassment.  Of course, this is to require an impossibility since the petitions have never been released to the public, so that the public does not know who to target for harassment. However, the court does find that the Plaintiffs have proven that "public advocacy of traditional marriage as the exclusive definition of marriage, or the expansion of rights for same sex partners, has engendered hostility in this state, and risen to violence elsewhere, against some who have engaged in that advocacy." We believe under the law that this is all that one has to prove, since making public the signers of R-71 would disclose the identity of people who advocate traditional marriage to the public for harassment.  Jim Bopp

In a message dated 10/17/2011 3:06:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:
Breaking News: District Court Rejects Harassment Claims in Doe v. Reed<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24330>
Posted on October 17, 2011 12:05 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24330> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The state of Washington just won summary judgment<http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/doevreed-summary-judgment.pdf> on remand in the Doe v. Reed case involving disclosure of the names of people signing a referendum concerning Washington State’s gay rights law.

From the opinion:

Applied here, the Court finds that Doe has only supplied evidence that hurts rather than helps its case. Doe has supplied minimal testimony from a few witnesses who, in their respective deposition testimony, stated either that police efforts to mitigate reported incidents was sufficient or unnecessary. Doe has supplied no evidence that police were or are now unable or unwilling to mitigate any claimed harassment or are now unable or unwilling to control the same, should disclosure be made. This is a quite different situation than the progeny of cases providing an as-applied exemption wherein the government was actually involved in carrying out the harassment, which was historic, pervasive, and documented. To that end, the evidence supplied by Doe purporting to be the best set of experiences of threats, harassment, or reprisals suffered or reasonably likely to be suffered by R-71 signers cannot be characterized as “serious and widespread.”



Here is another excerpt from the Court’s conclusion:

Considering the foregoing, Doe’s action based on Count II falls far short of those  an as-applied challenge has been successfully lodged to prevent disclosure of information otherwise obtainable under the PRA. Thus, the State’s undoubtedly important interest in disclosure prevails under exacting scrutiny.

While Plaintiffs have not shown serious and widespread threats, harassment, or reprisals against the signers of R-71, or even that such activity would be reasonably likely to occur upon the publication of their names and contact information, they have developed substantial evidence that the public advocacy of traditional marriage as the exclusive definition of marriage, or the expansion of rights for same sex partners, has engendered hostility in this state, and risen to violence elsewhere, against some who have engaged in that advocacy. This should concern every citizen and deserves the full attention of law enforcement when the line gets crossed and an advocate becomes the victim of a crime or is subject to a genuine threat of violence. The right of individuals to
speak openly and associate with others who share common views without justified fear of harm is at the very foundation of preserving a free and open society. The facts before the Court in this case, however, do not rise to the level of demonstrating that a reasonable probability of threats, harassment, or reprisals exists as to
the signers of R-71, now nearly two years after R-71 was submitted to the voters in Washington State.
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24330&title=Breaking News: District Court Rejects Harassment Claims in Doe v. Reed&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24330&title=Breaking%20News%3A%20District%20Court%20Rejects%20Harassment%20Claims%20in%20Doe%20v.%20Reed&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, referendum<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=56> | Comments Off
“>From $25 to $10,000,000: A Guide to Political Donations”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24328>
Posted on October 17, 2011 12:01 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24328> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT launches very interesting interactive campaign finance guide<http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/17/us/politics/a-guide-to-political-donations.html?hp>.
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24328&title=“From $25 to $10,000,000: A Guide to Political Donations”&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24328&title=%E2%80%9CFrom%20%2425%20to%20%2410%2C000%2C000%3A%20A%20Guide%20to%20Political%20Donations%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments Off
“Deep Sea Burial forms first corporate ‘super PAC”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24325>
Posted on October 17, 2011 10:23 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24325> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/deep-sea-burial-forms-first-corporate-super-pac/2011/10/17/gIQABaRnrL_story.html>.  My earlier coverage is here.<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24304>
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24325&title=“Deep Sea Burial forms first corporate ‘super PAC”&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24325&title=%E2%80%9CDeep%20Sea%20Burial%20forms%20first%20corporate%20%E2%80%98super%20PAC%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“U.S. District Court Judge in Ohio Orders Secretary of State to Put Libertarian Party on 2012 Ballot”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24322>
Posted on October 17, 2011 10:21 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24322> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Libertarians win one<http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/10/17/u-s-district-court-judge-in-ohio-orders-secretary-of-state-to-put-libertarian-party-on-2012-ballot/>.
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24322&title=“U.S. District Court Judge in Ohio Orders Secretary of State to Put Libertarian Party on 2012 Ballot”&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24322&title=%E2%80%9CU.S.%20District%20Court%20Judge%20in%20Ohio%20Orders%20Secretary%20of%20State%20to%20Put%20Libertarian%20Party%20on%202012%20Ballot%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in ballot access<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=46> | Comments Off
“Appeal filed in NJ voting-machines lawsuit”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24319>
Posted on October 17, 2011 10:19 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24319> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Andrew Appel has posted this item<https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/appel/appeal-filed-nj-voting-machines-lawsuit> at Freedom to Tinker.
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24319&title=“Appeal filed in NJ voting-machines lawsuit”&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24319&title=%E2%80%9CAppeal%20filed%20in%20NJ%20voting-machines%20lawsuit%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in voting technology<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40> | Comments Off
Absentee Ballot Fraud Leads to Mayoral Resignation<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24316>
Posted on October 17, 2011 9:01 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24316> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

See here<http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/mayor-resigns-following-voter-fraud-investigation/nFG6R/> (via RNLA<https://twitter.com/#%21/TheRepLawyer/status/125954902311714816>). Once again voter fraud a state voter id law would not deter.
[http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24316&title=Absentee Ballot Fraud Leads to Mayoral Resignation&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D24316&title=Absentee%20Ballot%20Fraud%20Leads%20to%20Mayoral%20Resignation&description=>
Posted in absentee ballots<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=53>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
--
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org<http://electionlawblog.org/>


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