Clinics in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shrewport closed on Friday after the US Supreme Court overturned Roy v. Wade, ending constitutional protection for abortions and opening the door to a wave of anti-abortion sides. The Supreme Court ruling paved the way for Louisiana to immediately enact a dormant series of laws banning both surgical and medical abortions, with the exception of rape or incest. Similar activation laws were passed in 13 states in anticipation of the decision and were designed to take effect quickly. Orleans Parish Civil Court Judge Robin Giarrusso in 2018. Art form by Michael Maples / courtesy of Temple Sinai Abortion providers and advocates have sued the state in the Orleans Parish Civil Court, arguing that the overlapping web of activation laws was “unconstitutionally vague.” Hours later, Judge Robin Giarrusso, a Democrat first elected to the presidency in 1988, issued a temporary restraining order banning the state from enforcing its ban.
Clinics reopen their doors
In response to the order, the clinics said they would reopen their doors. “They plan to continue to provide the proceedings as soon as possible,” said Ellie Schilling, the lawsuit’s lead attorney. Judge Ethel Simms Julien, also a Democrat, will hear the preliminary ruling on July 8. Plaintiffs in the case include the Hope Medical Group for Women, which operates the Shreveport Clinic, and the New Orleans chapter of the nonprofit Medical Students for Choice. The lawsuit alleges that New Orleans had jurisdiction over the case because the nonprofit, which consists of medical students from Tulane University and LSU, operates there.
As Louisiana enters an era in which abortion rights will be decided by a state government strongly opposed to abortion, observers and advocates… The petition names Attorney General Jeff Landry, an ardent opponent of abortion, and Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Courtney Phillips as defendants. Landry, a Republican, vowed to fight the judge’s decision and enforce the law. “We will remind everyone that the laws currently in force were enacted by the people through the Constitutional Amendments of the state and legislature of Los Angeles, which the citizens elect representatives,” Landry wrote on Monday. “We are fully prepared to defend these laws in our state courts, just as we have done in our federal courts.”
Activation Law Web
Louisiana passed the first activation law in 2006 under the then governor. Kathleen Blanco. Another bill, signed last week by Gov. John Bell Edwards, sought to clarify the statute and clarify some of the inconsistencies in abortion laws passed over the past decade. But plaintiffs say it has blurred the waters. Under part of the law, anyone found guilty of abortion can face up to 10 years in prison. Those found guilty of delayed abortions, defined as those performed in the 15th week of pregnancy or later, will face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. But part of the 2006 law says anyone who has an abortion will be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison. As expected, Gov. John Bell Edwards announced Tuesday that he has signed legislation that will close all abortion clinics in Louis…. The lawsuit also alleges that state activation laws are vague and fail to describe “constitutionally guaranteed notice of what conduct is prohibited, if any, and when.” He notes, for example, that the statute allows abortions for medically futile pregnancies. But the list of what is considered “medical nonsense” has not yet been published by the Louisiana Department of Health as required. The biggest stories in business are delivered to you daily. Register today. The lawsuit also alleges that the laws contradict whether abortion is prohibited after fertilization or implantation. Benjamin Clapper, executive director of the Louisiana Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, said he was confident the appellate courts would allow the ban to go ahead. “While these issues are still evolving, Louisiana law is clear that babies will be protected from abortion when Roe v. Is overthrown. “Wade,” he wrote. “We are confident that our courts, whether at the district, appellate or state Supreme Court level, will uphold our laws in a timely manner.”
26 states are ready to ban or restrict abortion
“Years of legislative and judicial challenges”
Also Monday, advocates of abortion rights asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the process after 15 weeks with some exceptions and is set to take effect this week. And a hearing was scheduled for Monday afternoon in Utah, where Planned Parenthood challenged an activation law that contained narrow exceptions. Abortion rights activists have also gone to court to try to overturn restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the heart of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union in Arizona emergency application there on Saturday asking to block a 2021 law, fearing it could be used to stop all abortions. In a ruling Friday, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. “The expectation is that this will lead to years of legislative and judicial challenges,” said Jonathan Terley, a law professor at George Washington University. Hundreds of federal court squads, Lafayette Square, march to City Hall As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states – either because of state laws or because of confusion about them. In some cases, the treatments can only save time. Even if the courts prevent the application of certain restrictions, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any reported flaws. This is likely to happen in Louisiana. Across the country, other activation laws could be challenged on the grounds that the conditions for imposing bans are not met or that it was not right for a previous legislature to bind the current one. Laura Herner, a professor at Mitchell Hamlin Law School in St. Paul, Minnesota, said other challenges may call into question whether state laws allow adequate and explicit exceptions to protect a pregnant woman’s life or health.
Associated Press reporters KEVIN McGILL, AMY FORLITI and GEOFF MULVIHILL contributed to this report. Purchases made through links on our site may result in affiliate commission
