Courts & Law

Abortion-inducing drug case may be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Oklahoma Supreme Court set the stage Tuesday for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule this term on an abortion dispute over whether states may restrict doctors from prescribing the two drugs that are commonly used by women who seek an abortion in the first weeks of their pregnancy. Stage set for Supreme Court to rule on abortion<-inducing drugs:

The Oklahoma case could be the first test of whether the court’s
conservative majority will uphold the new state laws that seek to
strictly regulate legal abortions.

The legislatures in Oklahoma, Texas and several other states have adopted laws that require doctors to follow the Food and Drug Administration’s protocols for the use of “any abortion-inducing drug.” The laws forbid doctors to prescribe medications for “off-label use.”

Sponsors of the laws said
they wanted to protect the health of women. But medical experts and
supporters of abortion rights said the law would effectively ban
medication abortions because the FDA protocol is outdated and conflicts
with current medical practice.

Only one drug — mifepristone or RU-486 — was approved by the FDA in
2000 for inducing early abortions. In the last decade, however,
physicians have regularly prescribed a second drug — misoprostol — to
complete such abortions through nine weeks of a pregnancy. They also
have prescribed RU-486 in much lower dosages.

Rick Renzi sentenced to three years for corruption

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The wheels of justice turn slowly, but they turn. Former Arizona U.S. Rep. Renzi gets 3-year prison term: Former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, convicted in June on 17 counts of extortion, racketeering and other federal charges, was sentenced to three years in prison this morning at the U.S. District Court in Tucson. … Read more

Federal Court blocks Texas abortion law that Wendy Davis tried to stop

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas today issued an opinion striking down two key parts of an abortion restriction that Texas passed earlier this year. Sarah Kliff writes at Wonkblog, Wendy Davis couldn’t stop a Texas abortion law. But a federal court just did.

The decision halts two key provisions of House Bill 2: A requirement
that abortion providers have admitting privileges at a local hospital
and another barring medical abortions.

"The admitting privileges provision of House Bill 2 does not bear a
rational relationship to the legitimate right of the State in preserving
and promoting fetal life or a woman's health and, in any event, places a
substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a
nonviable fetus and is thus an undue burden to her," U.S. District Judge
Lee Yeakel wrote in the opinion.

On the medical abortion ban, he wrote, "Although the medication
abortion provisions do not generally place an undue burden on a woman
seeking an abortion, they do if they ban a medication abortion where a
physician determines, in appropriate medical judgment, such a procedure
is necessary for the preservation of the life or health of the mother."

This is a big deal for the 12 Texas abortion providers that filed
suit against the restrictions, which were set to take effect on Oct. 29.

Hawaii Special Session for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act begins today

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I know that "Birthers" think Hawaii is some exotic foreign country rather than the 50th state, and the American media tends to disregard news from Hawaii because its time zone does not coincide with their broadcasts or print deadlines, but there is news happening in Hawaii this week that deserves the media's attention. Here is the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today:

Star-Advertiser

The Special Session of the Hawaii Legislature for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act begins today.
Fervent assemblies precede session (subscription required).

The Hawaii Reporter does not require a subscription. Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor to Hold Hearing on Marriage Equality Bill:

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor will hold a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1, Relating to Equal Rights, on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol Auditorium.

The hearing will follow the convening of the Second Special Session of 2013 called by Governor Neil Abercrombie.

“Listening to public input, we’ve strived to strike a balance between
the concerns expressed by both sides of this issue,” said Senator
Clayton Hee, Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor. “We
have also done our best to provide the public with ample opportunity to
review the measure posted online to offer further input. Everyone
wishing to participate may do so by submitting testimony.”

Hawaii Special Session begins on Monday for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

EqualHawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie has called for a Special Session of the Hawaii Legislature beginning on Monday for SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act.

State Rep. Richard Lee Fale has posted the following information about the Special Session. October Special Session Update:

My office has received a lot of calls about the special session that
the governor has called, beginning October 28. This communication is
going out to answer questions about how you can be involved in the
scheduled special session. I want to be clear, I do not agree with the
Governor's decision to call a special session. I believe it is a
reckless and forced attempt to push major legislation without ample time
for review and public input. That being said, the constitution allows
the governor to call a special session. Therefore, if you want to have
your voice heard on the same gender marriage issue, you will need to
speak up during this special session.

How to Submit Testimony

If you are interested in submitting testimony on SB1- Hawaii Marriage Equity Act here are some guidelines:

  1. Testimony needs to be submitted BEFORE 10:30AM Sunday, Oct 27.
  2. Testimony can be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee. You will first need to create an account on the www.capitol.hawaii.gov website.
  3. Click here to create an account, so that you can submit testimony.
  4. Click here for hearing notice instructions and links. Testimony may be submitted by email, fax, or on the Internet.

Committees that will hear Senate Bill 1 (SB1)

Senate Bill 1 – SB1 – Hawaii Marriage Equity Act is scheduled to be
heard by the following committees. You can also express your views on
SB1 by contacting the members of the following committees:

  • Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor
    Clayton Hee, Chair
    Click here for the members of this committee.
  • House Judiciary Committee
    Click here for the members of this committee.
  • House Finance Committee
    Click here for the members of this committee.