High court to hear slots referendum challenge

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Maryland's Court of Appeals is scheduled Monday to hear oral arguments in the battle over the November slots referendum.

Irwin Kramer, a lawyer for slots opponents, argues that a panel of three Circuit Court judges did not go far enough to fix ballot language that the judges found to be misleading. He also says the referendum itself is unconstitutional, arguing that lawmakers are wrongly delegating decisions to voters by asking them to approve a "duplicitous constitutional amendment."

Attorneys for the state argue that the court has already rejected a constitutional challenge to the referendum and should do the same in this case. They add that the revised ballot question "fairly and concisely" summarizes the proposed amendment.