July 29, 2005 -- Today the Washington State Grange filed an appeal of the permanent injunction invalidating Initiative 872 issued by Judge Thomas Zilly in the Federal District Court this afternoon.

“We are pleased Judge Zilly made no significant changes to his preliminary order,” said Washington State Grange President Terry Hunt. “Now that the permanent injunction has been issued we can begin the appeal process in the Ninth Circuit.”

Early next week the Grange will file a motion for expedited review with the Ninth Circuit Court in hopes a decision can be made prior to the 2006 legislative session.

“The voters overwhelmingly approved the top-two primary at the 2004 election,” said Washington State Grange Elections Specialist Don Whiting. “We are certainly not going to abandon the legal defense of the initiative at this point.”

####