Supreme Court Sets R71 Hearing Date

The U.S. Supreme Court has set April 28 as the date it will hear the case on whether Washington State can release the names of people who signed petitions supporting a domestic-partnership referendum. Last November voters approved Referendum 71, which upheld the law expanding domestic-partnership rights for same-sex couples.

The hearing before the high court represents the culmination of an appeals process in which domestic-partnership opponents have sought to obscure their role in putting Referendum 71 on the ballot.

"Protect Marriage Washington unsuccessfully opposed a new law giving gay couples expanded rights," reports the Associated Press. "The group wants to shield petition-signers' names from public release, saying it fears harassment by gay-rights supporters."