Today Judge Benjamin Settle decided to temporarily halt the release of the names of those who signed Ref. 71 until another hearing in September.
Judge Settle cited that absence in his written order, and also gave what appears to be a nod to the strength of the referendum backers’ case, writing that they “have sufficiently demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits” of their First Amendment claim, and “a reasonable likelihood of irreparable harm if the names are released.”
But it certainly appears to be a set-up from the very start.
President Bush has nominated a Shelton lawyer to fill a vacancy on the federal bench in Tacoma.
While he lacks judicial experience, Benjamin Settle, 59, has practiced law for almost 35 years. He graduated from Willamette University’s law school in 1972…
Settle said he served as a temporary Mason County Superior Court judge about a decade ago, but “I don’t have a lot of experience in that regard.”
A Republican, Settle said he has worked on several of former Sen. Slade Gorton’s campaigns.
More to come.
