Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Oregon Domestic Partnership Law(http://www.katu.com/news/local/26962074.html)

A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to the Oregon domestic partnership law approved by the Legislature last year.

Opponents had tried to collect enough initiative signatures to put the issue to a statewide vote. But Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury ruled they did not get enough.

His ruling was challenged in federal court, but a judge upheld Bradbury’s decision.

On Thursday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also affirmed the secretary of state’s ruling.

The ruling also supports the statistical sampling method of checking initiative petitions to make sure enough valid signatures have been submitted.