The state of Arkansas and the organizers of an effort to put abortion access before voters in November continue to wrangle in court over whether the Secretary of State’s office acted within its legal authority in throwing out the measure.
In a Monday legal filing, Secretary of State John Thurston denied allegations his office acted “unlawfully” when rejecting the ballot measure .
Thurston addressed factual claims in the lawsuit brought by Arkansans for Limited Government and reiterated his position that the committee cannot be granted legal relief.
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday ordered Thurston’s response by Monday as well as further briefs, setting deadlines of Aug. 2 and 9 for both parties.
How many signatures did Arkansans for Limited Government collect?
Still, Thurston’s office was ordered Tuesday to do an initial count of signatures collected by volunteer canvassers in response to Arkansans for Limited Government’s motions to expedite the case and for emergency relief.