Judge Strikes Down Police Bargaining Petition
Some signatures did not provide valid information, according to a Washington Post report.
A petition to let residents vote on expansive bargaining rights for the Montgomery County police union was struck down by a Montgomery County judge Monday, according to a report in The Washington Post.
Judge Eric M. Johnson rejected the petition because some of the signers did not provide valid information, The Post reported.
The police union is expected to appeal the decision.
In July 2011, the Montgomery County Council passed a law that quelled the police union's ability to bargain certain management decisions, such as how officers are given new assignments and how to implement a new computer system used by employees. The law does not affect the right to negotiate for salary and benefits.
The police union collected over 35,000 signatures to get the referendum on the November ballot, but the Montgomery County Council sued the county's Board of Elections after the board put the question on the ballot.
Joe Thomas
6:11 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Eric Johnson is where he is today because of the FOP. Somewhat strange that he takes a few signatures and decides that most are fraudulent and throws out the petition For shame Judge Johnson.
MS
6:59 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Mr. Thomas' first sentence above is revealing to me: "Eric Johnson (the judge) is where he is today because of the FOP (Federation of Police). Am I to read this to mean that FOP members believe the judge should be beholden to them (presumably for political support) and rule in their favor because of it? I'd rather the judge make his ruling based on what he determines to be the actual facts in the case.