Court: MDPetitions.com Can Intervene in Lawsuit to Keep DREAM Act Referendum on Ballot

Judicial Watch Represents Group in Legal Battle against Illegal Alien Advocates over "In State Tuition"

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today announced new developments in the MDPetitions.com legal action to ensure voters have the opportunity to consider "tuition benefits" for illegal alien students.  These legal developments were among those discussed today at a press conference in Annapolis, the Maryland state capital.

On October 7, 2011, MDPetitions.com was granted permission to intervene in a lawsuit that seeks to deny voters an up-or-down vote on the Maryland DREAM Act (John Doe, et al., v. Maryland State Board of Elections, (No. 02-C-11-163050)).  The MDPetitions.com group is represented by Judicial Watch.

The Maryland DREAM Act was enacted by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Governor Martin O'Malley on May 10, 2011.  The law creates a new taxpayer-subsidized public benefit -- the ability to pay reduced tuition rates at Maryland community colleges and public higher education institutions -- for certain eligible illegal aliens.  The MDPetitions.com petition drive collected nearly twice the amount of signatures required by law to put the new benefit to voters in a referendum.

Illegal aliens and the activist group Casa de Maryland challenged the petition drive in court in order to protect taxpayer dollar subsidies for the college tuition for certain illegal aliens.

"This important court battle has begun.  We will analyze each and every signature now being challenged in court in order to protect the right of the citizens of Maryland to vote on this issue," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.  "In fact, our initial analysis shows many Maryland citizens, as many as 1,600, have had their petitions improperly rejected.  We are confident that the illegal aliens and their allies will not succeed in asking the courts to reject tens of thousands of citizen petition signatures. In the end, the democratic process will not be subverted."

"Over 130,000 people indicated that they wanted to vote on whether their tax dollars should be used to pay for college tuition for adult immigrants illegally in our country.  Our legal system must make sure that none of those signers are disenfranchised unnecessarily, and Judicial Watch is the perfect organization to watch over the rights of Marylanders. MDPetitions.com is proud to be a party to this case, and with Judicial Watch leading the legal effort, we will defend each and every one of those signatures.  Casa de Maryland, two illegal aliens, and others are suing to stop democracy in action, but MDPetitions.com will defend the rights of Marylanders: the right to referendum as provided in the Maryland Constitution," said Delegate Neil Parrott.

"I am deeply grateful that I was able to prevail upon Judicial Watch to intervene on behalf of the citizens of Maryland and protect their voting rights against a challenge promoted by illegal aliens," said Delegate Pat McDonough.

The chairman of MDPetitions.com is Maryland Assembly Delegate Neil Parrott of Washington County; Delegate Patrick McDonough of Baltimore and Harford Counties is its honorary chairman.

SOURCE Judicial Watch