The Secretary of State’s blog announces that the U.S. Supreme Court will discuss the case when it conferences on Jan. 15.

This is the case brought by backers of Ref. 71, which sent to voters the issue of giving gay and lesbian couples everything-but-marriage rights in Washington state.

They wanted to block release of names of petition signers, arguing that release would subject signers to harassment, thus effecting their First Amendment rights. The federal District Court in Tacoma blocked release but that decision was overturned by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

It is the 9th Circuit decision that is before the nation’s top court. The state argued that the court should not take the case and allow the 9th Circuit ruling to stand.