Jurors hear closing arguments in Houston equal rights trial

Attorneys in the lawsuit surrounding Houston's embattled equal rights ordinance laid out their closing arguments Thursday, punctuating a trial that has been both deeply technical and at times tense.

Now, the jury is being asked to weigh about six questions that ultimately will help a judge decide whether the city incorrectly invalidated a petition that opponents of the law submitted in an attempt to force a repeal referendum.

Jurors are not examining the merits of the controversial ordinance, which City Council passed last May, banning discrimination among businesses that serve the public, private employers, housing, city employment and city contracting but exempting religious institutions. The jury instead is tasked with examining thousands of petition pages that foes of the law submitted last July hoping to force a repeal referendum. Mayor Annise Parker and former City Attorney David Feldman rejected the petition for alleged collection and notary errors that pushed its signature tally below the required 17,269 valid names needed to force a vote. After the rejection, opponents sued.

Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs, painted the trial as pitting desire of the people to vote against an all-powerful City Hall. Gesturing to the city's many pro bono lawyers, Taylor referenced the bible.

"Help us beat Goliath," Taylor said. "Help us beat City Hall."

Geoffrey Harrison, attorney for the city, was less theatrical in his closing. Instead, he walked jurors through some of the pages they will be asked to consider and determine if, for instance, a circulator both printed their name and signed the bottom of the page.

"The plaintiffs have tried throughout this case to skirt the law," Harrison said. "We don't get to pick and choose what rules we follow."

Jurors are now deliberating.