Moritz College of Law Professor Dale A. Oesterle has this interesting commentary on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Doe v Reed.  Oesterle does not so much take sides in the case, as to point out the unclear legal standards set forth in the decision.  Doe v Reed is the case from Washington state on whether governments should release the names and addresses of petition signers to the public.

Among the unanswered questions, according to Oesterle, is whether the principles set forth in the case apply to petitions other than referendum petitions.  He is especially curious about whether the analysis would apply to recall petitions.  Recall petitions, more than any other petitions with legal affect, are closest to voting, and the nation has a strong tradition for the last 120 years that voting should be secret.

As Oesterle notes, the case is not finished, and now returns to U.S. District Court in Washington to decide if names and addresses from the particular referendum petition that caused the case should be released to the public.

The Socialist Workers Party has released a list of its candidates for public office this year.  The party expects to be on the statewide ballot in Iowa.  It also expects to be on the ballot for one U.S. House race in New York, and one in Iowa.  Finally, it expects to be on the ballot for Mayor of Washington, D.C.  All the other candidates will be write-in candidates.