Judge grants a restraining order in petition count

Judge Forcum has granted a temporary restraining order preventing MROSD’s expansion until invalidated petitions can be reviewed.  The Mercury News reports:

Forcum was troubled that county officials disqualified nearly 33 percent of the 5,340 protests submitted—a "staggering number,’’ he said—and called for a more "inclusive’’ process that wouldn’t disenfranchise voters. Several dismissed protest petitions had technical problems, such as listing post office boxes instead of home addresses.

However, only 147 petitions were invalidated for incorrect addresses. About 640 of the disqualified petitions would have to be deemed "sufficient" for an election to be called. It’s unclear where the remaining 500 petitions will come from.

On Thursday, July 22, the court will hear a motion to place a full restraining order on the protest process.