Abortion advocates say they complied with the law and Thurston is violating the First Amendment. The state contends they did not and that the court lacks jurisdiction anyway.
John Thurston
Posted inArkansas Blog
Casino amendment makes the ballot, marijuana amendment heads to cure period, sec. of state says
An amendment that would blow up the recently awarded Pope County casino license has qualified for the November ballot.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Labor and delivery: How a volunteer-powered group gathered 102K signatures for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment
Sec. of State John Thurston rejected the Arkansas Abortion Amendment based on a paperwork error, but women’s health advocates are not going away without a fight.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Secretary of state’s filing in abortion amendment case hints at catch-22 argument down the line
Thurston claims the court lacks jurisdiction to review his decision until he finishes the next step of reviewing signatures … which he’s already said he won’t do unless the court tells him to.
Posted inArkansas Blog
State Supreme Court won’t dismiss abortion petitioners’ lawsuit, for now
The ruling is another small victory for Arkansans for Limited Government, the group behind the abortion amendment.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Sec. of State finishes count of abortion rights signatures; amendment’s fate still uncertain
Whether the amendment will be on the November ballot comes down to what the Supreme Court decides to do with signatures from paid canvassers.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Ark. Supreme Court orders secretary of state to count some abortion petition signatures
Though the secretary of state must start counting, the court stopped far short of giving abortion petitioners an outright victory.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Secretary of state’s office pulled ‘bait and switch’ on petition requirements, abortion advocates argue
The group said Secretary of State John Thurston’s “actions have thwarted the will of the people.”
Posted inArkansas Blog
Attorney general asks state Supreme Court to dismiss lawsuit over abortion amendment (UPDATED)
Attorney General Tim Griffin contends the abortion-rights group essentially failed to turn in a petition at all when they failed to include a signed statement about paid canvassers.
Posted inArkansas Blog
Abortion advocates sue secretary of state over rejection of amendment
Arkansans for Limited Government gave Secretary of State John Thurston until Monday to change course and count signatures, but he refused.