13 May 2024 Legal Challenge to the Parents Rights Initiative
On May 6, 2024, the ACLU sent a letter to Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson demanding that his office investigate possible constitutional violations arising from the Parents Rights Initiative. On May 13, 2024, the Attorney General office declined to initiate legal proceedings. It is important to understand that if the Attorney General felt that the Parents Rights Initiative was against our State Constitution, he would be required as a matter of law to issue a statement saying this.
On May 23, 2024 the ACLU filed a 34 page lawsuit to prevent the Parents Rights Initiative from taking effect on June 6, 2024 because they claim that the initiative “contradicts existing federal and state laws… and the Washington state constitution.” The ACLU also claims that the initiative “misled state lawmakers and the public.” https://www.aclu-wa.org/docs/complaint-legal-counsel-youth-and-children-et-al-v-state-washington
The ACLU lawsuit asked King County Superior Court for a temporary restraining order, which would have prevented the initiative from taking effect on June 6 2024. However, the Court denied the motion. On June 21, the Court will consider a preliminary injunction. However, the ACLU case is so weak, it seems unlikely that the court will grant an injunction against an Initiative approved by a half million parents and passed in the Senate by a vote of 49 to zero.