On January 5, 2021, a panel of judges on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld an injunction preventing Arkansas Acts 493 and 619 from taking effect. Act 493 would prohibit abortion after 18 weeks’ gestation, and Act 619 would prohibit abortion on the basis of a Down syndrome diagnosis. In its decision, the panel identified both laws as “pre-viability” restrictions that run afoul of the viability […]
2021 May Be the Year of Gridlock
Both Georgia Senate races will continue to a January 5th runoff to determine who controls the Senate. If Republicans win one or both Senate seats, they will maintain control of the upper chamber. If Democrats win both, the Senate will be 50-50, making VP-elect Kamala Harris the tiebreaker. If you were hoping for an end to campaign contribution text messages, we’ve got a couple more weeks and two big races coming our way.
Down Ballot Results Yield Success for Life
The states are energized to pass life-affirming laws in 2021. Of the eleven gubernatorial races, Republicans held seven and picked up Montana, bringing their total to 27 states. Montana Governor-elect Greg Gianforte recently signed onto AUL’s amicus brief in support of the FDA’s safety laws regulating the chemical abortion pill.
Life on the ballot in Louisiana and Colorado
Louisiana, which ranked #1 on AUL’s 2020 Life List, has a robust history of passing bipartisan pro-life laws. The Love Life Amendment ensures that there is no “right to abortion” or to taxpayer funding for abortion in the state constitution. It defends against judicial overreach and is a direct response to six judges in Kansas discovering a right to abortion in the state constitution nearly 160 years after it was drafted. The purpose of the amendment is to keep lawmaking authority in its appropriate place, which is the legislative branch.
‘You feel like the world’s potential’
Got one last SCOTUS update for y’all, hopefully for quite some time! Yesterday morning, Justice Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in at the Supreme Court in a ceremony attended by all the Justices except for Breyer (who joined by phone). She moved in chambers and begins work immediately.
‘We are going to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court.’
Today is the day. Around 7:30 pm, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
About that misleading abortion rate meme…
The biggest victory for life is that the national abortion rate continues its downward trend, and it is now the lowest rate since 1973, when Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. State lawmakers, emboldened by this summer’s June Medical decision, should press forward and pass life-affirming laws everywhere they can regardless of who’s running the show in Washington come January 21, 2021.
‘A judge must apply the law as written’
Much like the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays, Judge Amy Coney Barrett hit it out of the park last week.
‘Judges don’t have campaign promises’
The role of a judge was a theme throughout the day yesterday. Judge Barrett stuck to the Ginsburg rule–“no hints, no forecasts, no previews”–when she was repeatedly asked to opine on the specifics of past and upcoming cases. It would be inappropriate for any judge to tip her hand to how she might rule in a future case, and Judge Barrett’s commitment to judicial independence was on full display.
‘Courts were not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life.’
Amy Coney Barrett’s reasoning is rooted in the Constitution and the law, but her opinions are written with a tone that recognizes that legal cases are fundamentally about people.
Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month
A Down syndrome diagnosis should never represent a death warrant. Too many people are aborted because they possess genetic differences. We have hundreds of laws protecting people with genetic anomalies once they are born, and we must extend that same kindness and protection to all people regardless of age, location, or genes.
Congress responds to Georgia ICE whistleblower report
In Congress, lawmakers in both parties are responding to whistleblower allegations that a doctor contracted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) performed hysterectomies on detainees against their will.
‘Roe v. Wade is on the ballot’
Judge Barrett is blitzing the Capitol, meeting with a number of Senators this week. Part of the Senate’s “advice and consent” process typically includes the nominee meeting one-on-one with Senators of both parties to answer their specific questions.
‘I love the United States and I love the United States Constitution’
If confirmed, Judge Barrett will be the first mom with school-age kids to serve on the Supreme Court. She brings a diversity of experience that will enrich the bench, carrying on the trailblazing legacy of fellow working mom Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
United Kingdom Chemical Abortion Pilot Program Prioritizes Cost over Safety
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom has instituted a two year at-home abortion pilot program called “Pills by Post.” Current UK law only permits abortions in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and has historically exercised strict oversight over the usage of chemical abortion pills. However, the details of this new program […]
Testimony in Support of Colorado HB 20-1098
Dear Chair Kennedy, Vice-Chair Lewis, and Members of the Committee: My name is Katie Glenn, and I serve as Government Affairs Counsel at Americans United for Life (AUL). Established in 1971, Americans United for Life is a national law and policy nonprofit organization with a specialization in abortion, end-of-life issues, and bioethics law. Our vision at […]
