Schimel will appeal ruling that struck down 'cocaine mom' law
A federal judge on Wednesday refused to stay his recent ruling that struck down Wisconsin's so-called cocaine mom law, and Attorney General Brad Schimel said he will make the same request of the federal appeals court.
“This law allows the state to provide critical services to pregnant women, and contains important tools to protect unborn children in imminent danger," Schimel said in news release. "The law has served Wisconsin well for nearly 20 years, and it deserves to be vigorously defended beyond just the U.S. District Court in Madison.”
Last month, U.S. District Judge James Peterson found the statute unconstitutionally vague in a case brought by a woman who had been jailed 18 days while pregnant because she refused to live at drug treatment center.
The 1998 law allows authorities hold adult pregnant women suspected of current or past drug or alcohol use that could affect their fetus in secure custody and subject them to involuntary medical treatment. Social workers can initiate confidential legal action in children's court; lawyers get appointed for a woman's fetus.
Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2017/05/17/schimel-appeal-ruling-struck-down-cocaine-mom-law/329046001/