A group has filed a lawsuit against the Nebraska Secretary of State challenging the legality of the death penalty referendum. Opponents of the states death penalty stance are asking a judge to nullify a referendum earlier this year that is seeking to overturn the repeal of the dealth penalty.
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The lawsuit has been filed in Lancaster County District Court. No indication has been made by the Secretary of State on whether enough signatures have been gathered to keep the repeal of the death penalty from taking effect.
The suit says a document disclosing sponsors of the petition did not include Gov. Pete Ricketts, despite information that he was a “primary initiating force”.
The lawsuit says petition signers should have been told the “true and actual sponsors” of the referendum drive because it could have influenced their decision.
Ricketts is on a trade mission in China and could not be reached. “And we’re confident they’re not going to be successful”, Peterson said.
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Hardin says the lawsuit is “yet another example of special interests using the courts in an attempt to thwart the will of voters”.
