On October 15, the 9th Circuit issued a one-paragraph order in Doe v Reed, 09-35818, giving the Washington Secretary of State’s office authority to release the names and addresses of people who signed the R-71 Referendum petition. The order says, “The court, after consideration of the record and briefs of the parties, and oral argument, has determined that the district court’s Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed September 10, 2009, relies on an incorrect legal standard and, therefore, must be reversed.”

The order also says that an opinion setting forth the reasons for the court’s reversal shall be issued later. The Secretary of State still can’t release the names this week, however, because of a state court order issued yesterday. Also it is possible the people who filed the lawsuit will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block the 9th circuit’s order. Thanks to Sam Harley for this news. See this story from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.