Houston claims Equal Rights Ordinance win despite mixed verdict

[TexasTowelie]

In the leadup to a trial over Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance, anti-LGBT activists demanded that the case be heard by a jury, not a judge, saying it was their constitutional right.

Now that the jury has rendered a verdict, opponents of the ordinance reportedly are hoping the judge rejects some of its findings. But they also say that if they lose, which now appears likely, they're prepared to appeal the ruling all the way to the Texas Supreme Court.

After six days of deliberations, the jury handed down a mixed verdict Friday about which signatures should be considered valid on a petition to repeal HERO. Now, based on the verdict, Judge Robert Schaffer must make a final ruling about whether the petition has the 17,269 valid signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

Attorneys for the city, which is defending the ordinance passed by the council last May, are signalling victory. Geoffrey Harrison, the city's lead attorney, told the Houston Chronicle that HERO supporters should be "dancing in their kitchens" based on the jury's verdict.



More at http://www.projectq.us/houston/City_claims_HERO_win_despite_mixed_verdict?gid=16554#.VOJHNAd7nCk.twitter

[marym625]

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