MD Judge Rules in Favor of DREAM Act Ballot Initiative
Anne Arundal County Judge Ronald A. Silkworth issued a ruling on Friday that will allow Maryland voters to decide the fate of the state's DREAM Act. State legislators rushed passage of a bill in final moments of the 2011 legislative session that allows illegal aliens who attended a Maryland high school and hold either a diploma or GED to receive the in-state tuition rate at public colleges and universities. A grassroots effort collected thousands of signatures sufficient enough to try and repeal the law through referendum during this November's elections.
CASA de Maryland and other groups challenged the grassroots effort, arguing first that the signatures collected for the petition weren't valid and then that the state constitution doesn't allow for a referendum on legislation passed by the state legislature. The groups dropped the challenge to the signatures last fall, but continued their challenge of the constitutionality of the petition.
Judge Silkworth, however, disagreed with CASA de Maryland's arguments, allowing the referendum process to continue.
CASA de Maryland has said it will likely appeal the decision.