(Washington, D.C.): On Wednesday, the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama filed an original jurisdiction complaint in the Supreme Court against the states of New York and California and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Invoking the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, the Court’s authority to hear cases in the first instance rather than on appeal, is a first for abortion jurisprudence, but asks the Court to resolve the direct dispute between pro-life and pro-abortion states caused by abortion shield laws.
Carolyn McDonnell, Litigation Counsel for AUL, stated, “Abortion shield laws disregard the equal sovereignty of states to enact their own health and safety laws, including laws that protect women and girls from the harms of mail-order abortion drugs. This lawsuit presents a great opportunity for the Supreme Court to examine the constitutionality of shield laws and reaffirm the promise it made in the Dobbs decision to return the abortion issue to the people and their elected representatives.”
John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life, added, “Americans United for Life stands firmly behind Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama. Pro-life states must be allowed to enforce their laws, and we are excited that this innovative strategy is being embraced by the states. These pro-life states are asking the Supreme Court to affirm the promise it made in Dobbs: that pro-life states would be able to set their own policy on abortion, just as New York, Massachusetts and California would as well.”
For more information or to arrange an interview with AUL, contact Gavin Oxley at [email protected] or 202-987-3321.
Since 1971, Americans United for Life (AUL) has advanced the human right to life in culture, law, and policy by equipping advocates and lawmakers with the facts and strategies that change hearts and minds and protect human life. The first national pro-life organization in the country, AUL is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
