FRC Hopeful U.S. Supreme Court Will Protect Voters Seeking to Protect Marriage

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Jun 24, 2010, 06:14 ET

WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a ruling in Doe v. Reed regarding the public release of the names and addresses of ballot petition signers. Family Research Council filed an amicus brief in the case.

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Ken Klukowski, Family Research Council's Special Counsel and Director of the Center for Religious Liberty made the following comments in response:

"The Supreme Court today held that signing ballot petitions is protected by the First Amendment. The Court concluded that the First Amendment does not categorically ban all disclosures of ballot petitions, noting that most petitions involve such mundane issues as local construction projects.

"Liberal groups are rushing to cheer this ruling but in fact the Court's opinion protects those subject to harassment. The Court went on to say that if plaintiffs show a reasonable probability that disclosing their identities could subject them to harassment, then the First Amendment requires those names to be kept confidential. The Family Research Council looks forward to supporting exactly that argument in the lower court, hopeful that the Supreme Court will protect voters seeking to defend marriage as this case goes forward."

SOURCE Family Research Council