U.S. court allows Louisiana abortion restrictions to go into effect

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday allowed Louisiana to enforce a restrictive 2014 abortion law critics say is aimed at shutting clinics, ending a halt to the measure handed out by a lower court judge earlier this year.

The Louisiana-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a request from the state to put into effect the law requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles (48 km) of the place where the abortion is performed.

"We reversed the district court and permitted the law to go into effect because the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that the law placed an undue burden on a large fraction of women," the decision from a three-judge panel said.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights group, said the decision means all but one provider of legal abortions in the state of 4.7 million people will be forced to close. It said it would appeal to the decision the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-louisiana-abortion-idUSKCN0VX31I

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World | Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:41pm EST
BY JON HERSKOVITZ

[maxsolomon]

1. The stakes are really clear in the SCOTUS Nomination

Roe v Wade will suffer the Death of a 1000 Cuts if this stands. Every GOP-controlled State House has passed a similar law.

Don't like Abortions? DON'T HAVE ONE.

[dhol82]

2. I think some of this blow back goes to the current day lack of shaming

Of unwed women. Once upon a time, an unwed female who got pregnant was shunned and shamed and could not live in polite society. I remember back in the 60's that if a girl got pregnant she would have to go off to go visit aunt Harriet in Omaha for 9 months or else, if lucky, manage to marry the guy.
I knew a number of women who had horrible abortion stories - some were roommates.
Then, the tv and movie women started doing the unwed mother thing and it became ok. It became almost fashionable to not have a husband or go down the aisle a year after the birth - God forbid you couldn't wear a chi-chi wedding gown.
Young women did not know what it was like in the past. They only knew that there was no stigma to having a baby when you wanted, no matter your status, that they felt ewwww abortion, what an awful thing to do.
Sorry, my rant. The kids today don't have a clue what it was like when you didn't have a choice. Hope it never goes back to the old days.

[StevieM]

5. The chapter in our history you are referring to is called the Baby Scoop Era.

Women were left with little choice other than adoption.

Many of those women grieve their lost children to this day.

[dhol82]

6. Young women today have no clue to what it was like then

And, it wasn't that long ago.
Just hope it doesn't go back.

[StevieM]

7. Exactly. Many people can't imagine how things used to be.

And yes, I do believe the Republicans want to go back.

Their goal is hard for many to believe, but it's perfectly clear: they want no sex outside of heterosexual marriage and EVERY SINGLE CHILD born out of wedlock to be given up for adoption.

[Scalded Nun]

3. Why even live in that shithole of a state? eom

[Boldine]

4. Wonder when they are going to demand the same

for all dental offices that do procedures under anesthetic?

And what about colonoscopies - the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that abortions pose about the same risk as colonoscopies.

We all know this so called requirement by LA is just bullshit.

The right won't be happy until all women of child-bearing age are kept barefoot and pregnant.

Sadly the TRAP laws are working, keeping women trapped and controlled just the way the repugs want them.

[progree]

8. Presidents appoint appeals court judges too, not just Supreme Court judges

so yes, this highlights the importance of winning the general election.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

9. If the SCOTUS refuses to review the case, the decision becomes the law in the Fifth Circuit

The Fifth Circuit includes parts of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

One day the Millenials will wake up and realize that what they thought was settled law (Roe v. Wade) no longer exists, and the battle will have to be fought again.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. "not ... an undue burden on a large fraction of women"

Only on the women without the means to miss work and travel. An insignificant fraction, the emphasis on "insignificant".

It's a decision whose effect is purely class-related.

[ananda]

11. The Fifth Circuit -- I'm not surprised.

It's probably the worst court in the nation.