April 2007 Insider Update: Kathryn's Corner
4/18/2007: Breaking News: Supreme Court Upholds Federal Abortion Ban SUPREME COURT RULING ON FEDERAL ABORTION BAN IMMINENT We expect the U.S. Supreme Court to announce its decision soon regarding the constitutionality of the Federal Abortion Ban, which was signed into law by President Bush in November 2003. Although three federal courts have already declared this ban unconstitutional and have ordered the government not to enforce it, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Bush Administration's petition to uphold the ban last November. The Federal Abortion Ban:
- is a criminal ban on abortion that could apply as early as the 12th week of pregnancy;
- is the first federal law ever to criminalize safe medical procedures;
- is not a ban on a single procedure – the law's overly broad language actually outlaws multiple procedures, including the most common methods used after the 12th week;
- does not provide an exception to protect a woman's health;
- does not provide an exception in cases of severe fetal anomaly;
- is strongly opposed by doctors and medical societies.
There are three main possibilities with regard to the Supreme Court decision: the Court could uphold the ban as written; it could strike down the ban; or it could limit the ban to certain procedures with some sort of health exception. Given the crucial role of Justice Kennedy in this decision, Washington insiders say the most likely scenario is the latter since Justice Kennedy asked questions about health exceptions during the hearing. This means that the Court may decide what medical procedures and exceptions will be allowed for women seeking abortions and doctors who provide their medical care. If the ban is upheld in whole or in part, it will greatly impact the ability of women in Colorado and across the country to make their own reproductive health care decisions in consultation with their doctor, their families, and their God or conscience. This ban is part of the Bush Administration’s – and the conservative right wing's – agenda to outlaw abortion entirely. This will throw the fight regarding women's reproductive rights and health care back to the states, so we at NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado are pursuing a pro-active, vigilant strategy to ensure that abortion remains legal, safe and rare in Colorado. We will keep you informed about the Supreme Court decision, its impact on your life, and our next steps in Colorado. If you would like to be one of the first to hear about the Supreme Court decision, please click here to join our urgent notice network.
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