The allegations stemmed from claims that Todd notarized petition pages without being in the presence of the petition circulators, as required by Nebraska law. One circulator, Michael Egbert of Grand Island, admitted to forging signatures from a phone book and was fined $250 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
Judge Corey’s decision emphasized that while notaries perform important duties, their roles are clerical and ministerial, not governmental. He referenced the 1984 U.S. Supreme Court case Bernal v. Fainter, which distinguished notaries from public officials.
Despite the dismissal, prosecutors from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and Hall County Attorney’s Office have filed an appeal to the District Court of Hall County, seeking to reinstate the charges against Todd.
This case is part of broader legal challenges surrounding Nebraska’s medical marijuana initiatives, which received significant voter support. The outcome of the appeal could have implications for the validity of the petition signatures and the future of medical cannabis legislation in the state.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
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