Planned Parenthood, ACLU Sue Over Extreme Abortion Ban In Alabama

A Planned Parenthood supporter and opponent try to block each other's signs during a protest and counter-protest Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 in St. Louis. Rallies aimed at urging Congress and President Donald Trump to ... A Planned Parenthood supporter and opponent try to block each other's signs during a protest and counter-protest Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 in St. Louis. Rallies aimed at urging Congress and President Donald Trump to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood are scheduled across the country. (AP Photo/Jim Salter) MORE LESS
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As they vowed, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU have filed suit against Alabama’s extreme abortion ban law, the Montgomery Democrat & Chronicle first reported.

“By criminalizing the performance of abortion (or attempted performance of abortion) at all points in pregnancy, H.B. 314 directly conflicts with Roe and more than four decades of Supreme Court precedent affirming its central holding,” the suit reads.

The extreme measure, which was signed into law last week, makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and includes no exceptions for rape or incest.

If the law gets shot down in the lower courts, as has happened with many abortion bans nationwide, it would go to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Based on a recent opinion by the conservative court when it shot down a law that would allow for prosecution of doctors who perform a common second-trimester abortion procedure, activists probably wouldn’t get a win there.

But, they could always appeal to the Supreme Court, which they hope would choose to take up the case, giving the conservative-slanting body a chance to overturn or defang Roe v. Wade. 

Read the lawsuit here:

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for paulw paulw says:

    How long does the appeals process typically take? I wouldn’t look for the gang of five to take the case if it arrives before october 2020, but after that all bets are off.

  2. Lawsuit and boycott the hell out of any state pulling this crap.

  3. Maybe California should ban all guns and then see which court challenge goes faster through the court system.

  4. With luck Alabama can pay the ACLU and Planned Parenthood’s legal fees

  5. Music to the ears of bad hombres and entitled billionaire Republicans everywhere.

    Not only must you give birth, you must also not screw up anything for nine months. Interested bureaucrats will be watching closely.

    Republican government: now the biggest part of your daily life.

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