JUDGE Temporarily BLOCKS Mississippi LAW That Could Shut Down State’s Only ABORTION Clinic

TheBlaze.com ^ | July 1, 2012 | Madeleine Morgenstern

[Yosemitest]

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS MISSISSIPPI LAW THAT COULD SHUT DOWN
STATE’S ONLY ABORTION CLINIC
By Madeleine Morgenstern





Anti-abortion advocates stand outside Mississippi's only abortion clinic.
A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked a new law that could see it shut down. (AP)


JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked enforcement of a Mississippi law that could shut down the only abortion clinic in the state.

U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan in Jackson issued a temporary restraining order the day the new law took effect.

He set a July 11 hearing to determine whether to block the law for a longer time.

“Though the debate over abortion continues, there exists legal precedent the court must follow,” Jordan wrote.

The law requires anyone performing abortions at the state’s only clinic to be an OB-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital.
Such privileges can be difficult to obtain, and the clinic contends the mandate is designed to put it out of business.
A clinic spokeswoman, Betty Thompson, has said the two physicians who do abortions there are OB-GYNs who travel from other states.

The clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law.
The suit says the admitting privileges requirement is not medically necessary and is designed to put the clinic out of business.

If Jackson Women’s Health Organization closes, Mississippi would be the only state without an abortion clinic.

When Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed the law, House Bill 1390, he said he wants Mississippi to be “abortion-free.”

“Gov. Bryant believes HB 1390 is an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women,” Bryant spokesman Mick Bullock said in a statement Sunday night.
“The federal judge’s decision is disappointing,
and Gov. Bryant plans to work with state leaders to ensure this legislation properly takes effect as soon as possible.”

In the order, Jordan wrote:

“Plaintiffs have offered evidence – including quotes from significant legislative and executive officers
– that the Act’s purpose is to eliminate abortions in Mississippi.
They likewise submitted evidence that no safety or health concerns motivated its passage.
This evidence has not yet been rebutted.”

Jordan also wrote that Jackson Women’s Health Organization is
“the only regular provider of abortions in Mississippi,
and as of the Act’s effective date, JWHO cannot comply with its requirements.”

The Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, helped file the lawsuit for the Mississippi clinic.
The center’s president and CEO, Nancy Northup, said in statement Sunday:
“Today‘s decision reaffirms the fundamental constitutional rights of women in Mississippi
and ensures the Jackson Women’s Health Organization can continue providing the critical reproductive health care that they have offered to women for the last 17 years.

“The opponents of reproductive rights in the Mississippi legislature have made no secret of their intent to make legal abortion virtually disappear in the state of Mississippi,” Northup said.
“Their hostility toward women, reproductive health care providers, and the rights of both would unquestionably put the lives and health of countless women at risk of grave harm.”

Republican Rep. Sam Mims of McComb, who sponsored the new law, said it is designed to protect the health of every woman who has an abortion.


“We know for a fact that this is a serious procedure,” Mims said in an interview Sunday.
“Women can have complications.”

Mississippi physicians who perform fewer than 10 abortions a month can avoid having their offices regulated as an abortion clinic, and thus avoid restrictions in the new law.
The Health Department said it doesn’t have a record of how many physicians perform fewer than 10 abortions a month.
Clinic operators say almost all the abortions in the state are done in their building.

The clinic says if it closes, most women would have to go out of state to terminate a pregnancy –
something that could create financial problems for people in one of the poorest states in the nation.
From Jackson, it’s about a 200-mile drive to clinics in New Orleans; Mobile, Ala.; or Memphis, Tenn.

[Yosemitest]

Another screw-up by G.H.W. Bush, "Establishment Republican" and enemy of all conservatives, nation wide!
When will we learn to NEVER TRUST AN "ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN"!
They might as well be Democrats!

Let's review BACKSTABER Judge Daniel Porter Jordan III.

Dems don't oppose Jordan ...

Clarion Ledger
Dan Jordan is a former Madison County Republican Party chairman but has the support of the state Democratic Party chairman to become a U.S. District judge in Jackson. ...

Jordan and Dowdy have been on opposite sides in the courtroom, but Jordan has gained the respect of Dowdy and other opposing lawyers. ...

No widespread opposition has emerged to Jordan's nomination.
President Bush nominated Jordan, a partner in one of the state's largest law firms, to become a U.S. District judge in the Southern District of Mississippi to replace Tom S. Lee, who has semi-retired. ...

Jordan hopes his reputation as an even-tempered individual, known for getting along with others will help him to avoid the widespread opposition others have experienced. ...

"Dan is a fair individual who takes time to understand all sides of an issue."
If confirmed, Jordan said he will seek to have more face-to-face meetings with attorneys in open court on the status of cases.
Jordan said his philosophy is: "When you take the bench, you leave politics at the door."
The U.S. Senate must first confirm Jordan, a litigation lawyer at Butler Snow O'Mara Stevens & Cannada.
"I think it's a real opportunity through the law to be a public servant and I think you can do great things as a judge," the 41-year-old nominee said.
The Magnolia Bar Association, an organization of black attorneys, has strongly opposed Wallace's nomination.
But Jaribu Hill, association president, said of Jordan "a number of our members know him or have been in cases with him. We don't have any beef with him."
But despite the praise, Hill said the Magnolia Bar will oppose Jordan's nomination because the court needs more diversity. ...

Outside the courtroom, Jordan is known for his willingness to help.

Also read:

MISSISSIPPI: Sen. Thad Cochran (R), Sen. Trent Lott (R)

Jordan, Daniel Porter III

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
Nominated: April 24, 2006 | Confirmed: July 20, 2006
Summary: Jordan, a former lawyer in private practice, campaigned and worked for Sen. Lott in the late 1980s.
When he was interested in a judgeship, Jordan contacted Lott, who later recommended Jordan to the President, along with Sen. Cochran.
Jordan served as chair of his county Republican Party from 2001-2004 and county chair of Bush’s 2000 campaign.
Jordan gave nearly $1,400 to his former law firm’s political action committee 2003-2006.
His last contribution was registered February 1, 2006.
The PAC gives to Democrats and Republicans, including Lott.
Jordan also gave $200 to GOP Rep. Chip Pickering in 1996, and served as the county chair of Pickering’s campaign that year.
Jordan’s wife, Teri, gave $250 to the Mississippi Republican Party in 2002.

Judge’s Comment (email):“I'm not sure about the dates, but they sound about right.
As for my former firm's PAC, I would note that my level of contribution was not discretionary.
All equity members paid the same amount, and there was a committee that decided how the money was spent.
Although I could not tell you who received the contributions, I'm confident that you are correct in noting that the funds were distributed to both of the major parties.”

Daniel P. (Dan) Jordan, Ph.D.'s history and photo can be found at Bryan & Jordan Consulting, LLC.
Jordan played a central role in the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson in 1993.
In addition to directing activities at Monticello, he served on a three-person Executive Committee of the celebration's National Coordinating Committee as well as the Thomas Jefferson Commemoration Commission appointed by President Clinton.
In January, he and Mrs. Jordan gave a private tour of Monticello to the Clintons and Gores to launch the 250th as well as a presidential inauguration and administration,
an event reaching a worldwide television audience in excess of 200 million persons.

[Yosemitest]

You can go here and Rate Judge Daniel Porter Jordan.

[Marie]

I have NEVER had an OBGYN who couldn't admit me to the hospital.

[freedomfiter2]

“Their hostility toward women, reproductive health care providers, and the rights of both would unquestionably put the lives and health of countless women at risk of grave harm.”

So what? Those women are just products of conception, you hypocrit.

[LibLieSlayer]

Selling your soul for 30 pieces of silver or for an ideological stance... no difference. This judge just sold his soul... and he didn't even get pocket change in exchange for it.

LLS

[pennyfarmer]

Why would this law put them out of business? They are a women’s health care clinic. Do they have to perform abortions? Is that their only source of income? Is killing babies their only purpose?

/S

[Yosemitest]

I hope you're NOT calling me a "hypocrite" .
The democrats love making money off of murder.

They believe in

KILLING the INNOCENT
to
PROTECT the GUILTY !

[RKBA Democrat]

Is anyone here REALLY surprised that this came about?

Its just another round of political 3 card monte. And we’re suckers if we think we can win under the current arrangement.

[freedomfiter2]

Certainly not.

[Marathoner]

I swear, if I ever get another dog, I’m giving him a list of Federal judges to bite.