Posted on 06/26/2006 10:21:25 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court refused Monday to consider appeals from abortion rights groups wanting to block states from issuing car license plates bearing the message "Choose Life."
About a dozen states allow drivers to pay extra for the specialty car tags to show the car owners opposition to abortion.
Justices said they would not look at tag laws in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Abortion opponents contend they have a free-speech right to broadcast their own views on their car tags. Proposals to offer car owners an alternative "Choose Choice" plate failed in both state Legislatures.
A federal judge ruled that Louisiana's system for issuing specialty plates is unconstitutional because the Legislature decides who gets the tags and the money.
That decision was overturned by a federal appeals court panel, which found that the challenge amounts to a tax dispute that belongs in state court. And by an 8-8 vote, the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reconsider the case.
A federal judge had found that Tennessee's tag wrongly promoted only one side of the abortion debate, but the decision was overturned by an appeals court.
Justices have refused in the past to deal with similar disputes. Last year, the high court let stand a lower court ruling that said South Carolina's license plates, which bear the slogan "Choose Life," violate the First Amendment because abortion rights supporters weren't given a similar forum to express their beliefs.
The cases are Keeler v. Stalder, 05-1222, New Life Resources v. American Civil Liberties Union, 05-1483, and American Civil Liberties Union v. Bredesen, 05-1389.
Great one!
List, wagglebee?
The AP is lying, the "choose life" is formulated for CHOOSE TO PUT THE CHILD UP FOR ADOPTION.
That is how the states have avoided the abortion debate.
My friend's bumper sticker: "Save the baby humans"
I suspect that's one of the reasons the liberals have no luck on tis issue. The "Choose Life" plates ARE pro-choice. A choice infers more than one option. The choice, in this case, is life over abortion instead of the other way around. The liberals are basically bitching because they disagree with their own slogans.
Heh, I'd get one if I drove. :-P
And if you happen to see me out driving, get away from me as fast as possible. =8-0>
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.