Chief
10-04-2007, 09:26 AM
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/234685.html
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A sharply divided state Supreme Court has ruled that a law that bars political candidates from deliberately making false statements about their opponents violates the First Amendment right of free speech.
In a 5-4 ruling, the high court affirmed a state Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the law. The measure was enacted by the Legislature in 1999, a year after a similar ban on false statements involving initiatives and other ballot measures was thrown out by the state Supreme Court.
The majority says that the new law "like its predecessor, is unconstitutional on its face."
The dissent called the majority decision "an invitation to lie with impunity."
**SCHNIPP**
Good news for the Stemper Campaign...
::)
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A sharply divided state Supreme Court has ruled that a law that bars political candidates from deliberately making false statements about their opponents violates the First Amendment right of free speech.
In a 5-4 ruling, the high court affirmed a state Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the law. The measure was enacted by the Legislature in 1999, a year after a similar ban on false statements involving initiatives and other ballot measures was thrown out by the state Supreme Court.
The majority says that the new law "like its predecessor, is unconstitutional on its face."
The dissent called the majority decision "an invitation to lie with impunity."
**SCHNIPP**
Good news for the Stemper Campaign...
::)