FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Circuit Judge Doug Martin has canceled a Friday hearing on a lawsuit seeking to stop Fayetteville’s special election on a contentious anti-discrimination law.
Protect Fayetteville, the group opposing the city’s Uniform Civil Rights Protection ordinance, filed the lawsuit Monday, one day before early voting began for the Sept. 8 election.
A renewed motion was filed Tuesday, after Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued an opinion, saying she thinks the ordinance is unenforceable under state law.
“The plaintiffs failed to pursue their petitions expeditiously,” Martin said in his Thursday order. “Waiting until the day before voting began to file the petition rendered it impossible for the court to fulfill (its) requirement.”
Early voting will continue today and Friday in the County Clerk’s office on the third floor of the Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College Ave.
Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The ordinance, if approved, will prohibit specific acts of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents.
