Posted on 07/23/2004 3:07:45 PM PDT by ZGuy
JACKSON, Miss. - A federal judge on Friday blocked Mississippi from enforcing a new law that bars late-term abortions at abortion clinics, instead requiring patients to go to hospitals or outpatient surgical facilities.
U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee said the law did nothing new to protect patient health.
Jackson Women's Health Organization sued June 29 to have the law declared unconstitutional. The judge had issued a temporary restraining order July 2 and a preliminary injunction Friday.
The new law barred abortions at abortion clinics starting at 13 weeks' gestation. Previously, abortions were allowed there at up to 16 weeks' gestation.
The state contended the law was enacted to move late-term abortions from abortion clinics to facilities better equipped to ensure the safety of patients.
Simon Heller, an attorney with the Center For Reproductive Rights in New York, said an outpatient clinic without abortion experience was a poor choice compared to a licensed clinic where the procedure has been done for years.
He also said the new law would diminish access to abortions, forcing women seeking late-term procedures to go outside the state.
Stupid me. I thought judges were only supposed to rule on whether a law was legal or not.
Drive by MS ping!
Who appointed this jerk wad?
I know you're looking it up right as I speak!
Except for the baby, of course.
I could have told you that was a Clintoon apointee. Obvious!
http://www.mslawyer.com/mssc/DistrictCourts.htm
Judge (a misnomer?) Lee's official address and phone number in Jackson (look under Southern District of Mississippi listings).
http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/cle/seminars/Federal_Practice/
Seems the Judge was on a Continuing Legal Education panel addressing "Issues Affecting Removal in Mississippi: Remand and Abstention".
Maybe it's a subject he should have some real life experience in?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.