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Federal Judge Blocks Two Alabama Pro-Life Laws

By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter

On Thursday, October 27, 2016, Federal Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction blocking two Pro-Life bills that were passed in the 2016 Regular Session regulating abortions in Alabama.

The first law would prohibit abortion from operating within 2,000ft of a K-8 school. That law would have closed two of Alabama’s five abortion clinics immediately.

The order also blocked a law that would ban have banned dismemberment abortions. Supporters claim that dismemberment abortions are a “very safe method of abortion that’s standard practice for physicians in the second trimester”.

The lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama.

The Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama Susan Watson said in a statement, “It’s long past time for our elected officials to stop wasting time and taxpayer money passing laws that violate women’s constitutional rights and start focusing on the needs of women and families in this State.”

The President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, Staci Fox, said in a statement, “This ruling is a victory for people of Alabama and every person’s right to make their own decisions about abortion, without government interference. These laws are just the latest attempt to by politicians in Montgomery to block Alabama women from access to safe, legal abortion. As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood knows these laws punish women by blocking safe medical care – and they won’t stand. The court’s decision reaffirmed that Alabama politicians like Governor Bentley have no business putting themselves between doctors and the people seeking care.”

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Alabama’s representative on the national Right to Life Committee Cheryl Ciamarra said, “Pray this case continues appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Judge Myron Thompson was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter (D) 38 years ago.

The House sponsor of the dismemberment abortion ban State Representative Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) said, “The constitution has a remedy for such if only our do nothing congress would acknowledge it. They not only have the authority but also they have the responsibility. The constitution provides that the congress can remove federal judges and many of these progressives need to be removed ASAP. Pray for America.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) has vowed to appoint Pro-Choice judges to the federal bench if elected President while New York City billionaire businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump (R) has promised to appoint Pro-Life judges to the federal bench. The judges appointed by the next President will likely decide whether or not to uphold the controversial Roe versus Wade Supreme Court decision which stripped state governments of the power to prohibit abortions and created the legal concept of a right to an abortion.

 

Brandon Moseley is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

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