The Little Sisters of the Poor had a victory at the Supreme Court, nine years into the religious order's bouts of litigation over the Obama-era "contraception mandate" which obliged employers to provide for contraceptive coverage for employees through their health care plans. In a 7-2 […]
Courts
Litigation and rulings.
Judge Blocks Iowa 24-Hour Waiting Period
A Johnson County District Court Judge has blocked a mandatory 24-hour waiting period on abortions from taking effect. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the legislation into law and Planned Parenthood and the ACLU both sued to stop it from taking effect. The ruling from the judge prevents the law […]
Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that would have curtailed access to abortions in the state and that was nearly identical to a measure the court overturned in Texas in 2016. The ruling is a win for advocates of abortion access, who feared the case could quickly pave the way for […]
Illinois Lawsuit Challenges Reproductive Health Act
The Illinois Baptist State Association and two businesses have filed suit challenging a state law approved last year requiring health insurance policies sold in Illinois to provide coverage for abortions. The lawsuit said the mandate violates rights under the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration […]
ACLU Abandons Lawsuit Against Pro-Life Texas Towns
The ACLU and its Texas chapter have withdrawn their lawsuit against seven Texas towns that had declared themselves sanctuaries for the unborn and adopted ordinances outlawing abortion within their city limits. In February, the ACLU filed suit in East Texas against the cities of Waskom, Naples, […]
Appeals Court Upholds Texas Abortion Ban
A federal appeals court approved a ban on most abortions in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic – including those induced by medication – and continued to flex its muscle in a back-and-forth with an Austin-based district court judge who believes most abortions should be exempt from the state’s ban […]
Texas Abortionists Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court
Abortion businesses in Texas are pushing for the ability to conduct drug-induced abortions despite the coronavirus pandemic. They filed an emergency motion on Saturday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court order so they can keep dispensing abortion pills. The businesses sued after […]
Supreme Court Hears Louisiana Abortion Case
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided on the fate of a Louisiana abortion law as abortion rights advocates voiced their concerns outside the court on one side and anti-abortion activists on the other. The law requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. […]
California's Abortion Coverage Rule Declared Illegal
In the latest clash between the Trump administration and California, federal health officials said the Golden State's requirement that all health insurers in the state provide coverage for abortions violates federal law and could result in a loss of federal funding. Gov. Gavin Newsom dismissed the […]
Supreme Court Lets KY Ultrasound Law Stand
The Supreme Court left in place a Kentucky law, mandating doctors perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to patients before they can perform abortions. The high court declined, without comment, to hear an appeal brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the state's lone abortion […]