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u.s. news Diaranson 20 Juli 2022

Mississippi clinic ends challenge of near-ban on abortion

(AP) — The Mississippi effect in Indiana after a judge
abortion clinic that was at lifted a hold on them.
the center of the U.S. Su-
preme Court decision that The Mississippi clinic — best
overturned Roe v. Wade known as the Pink House
ended a lawsuit Tuesday because of its bright paint
in which it had sought to job — stopped offering med-
block the state from en- ication-induced and surgi-
forcing a law that bans cal abortions July 6, the day
most abortions. before Mississippi enacted a
law that bans most abortions.
Jackson Women’s Health Or- Mississippi was one of sev-
ganization dropped its litiga- eral states with a trigger law
tion a day after clinic owner that went into effect after the
Diane Derzis told The Asso- Supreme Court ruling.
ciated Press that she sold the
facility and had no intention The Mississippi trigger law,
to reopen it, even if a state passed in 2007, says abortion
court allowed her to do so. is legal only if the pregnant
woman’s life is in danger or
“If the clinic is not in a po- if a pregnancy is caused by
sition to reopen in Missis- a rape reported to law en-
sippi, it no longer has a ba- forcement. It does not have
sis to pursue this case in the an exception for pregnancies
courts,” Rob McDuff, a Mis- caused by incest.
sissippi Center for Justice at- a judge on Monday blocked ever.” the old law is void because
torney who was among those On July 5, a state court judge enforcement of the state’s it has not been enforced in
representing the clinic, said rejected a request by the 150-year-old abortion ban. West Virginia has a law dating more than 50 years and has
in a statement. Derzis said clinic’s attorneys to block the back to the 1800s that makes been superseded by a slew
the clinic’s furniture and trigger law from taking ef- The clinic’s executive direc- performing or obtaining an of modern laws regulating
equipment have been moved fect. The clinic appealed the tor, Katie Quiñonez, called abortion a felony punishable abortion that acknowledge
to a new abortion clinic she ruling to the state Supreme the judge’s decision “a sigh of by up to a decade in prison. West Virginians’ right to the
will open soon in Las Cruces, Court, citing a 1998 ruling relief.” It provides an exception for procedure. One example is
New Mexico. that said the state constitu- cases in which a pregnant a 2015 law that allows abor-
tion invokes a right to privacy “The impacts of abortion be- person’s life is at risk. tions until the 20th week of
Court battles over access that “includes an implied ing pushed out of reach for pregnancy.
to abortion are playing out right to choose whether or the last month have been dev- Women’s Health Center of
in multiple states follow- not to have an abortion.” astating,” she said in a state- West Virginia suspended Kanawha County Circuit
ing the Supreme Court’s ment. “Make no mistake: Es- abortion services June 24, Court Judge Tera L. Salango
June 24 ruling, which gave Because the clinic is drop- sential health care shouldn’t and dozens of abortion ap- granted a preliminary injunc-
states the authority to set ping its lawsuit, the Missis- depend on the whims of a pointments were canceled tion against the ban.
their own laws on abortion. sippi Supreme Court will not court or politicians, it should out of fear that providers or
On Tuesday, West Virginia’s issue a new ruling. be based on compassion and patients could be prosecuted West Virginia Attorney Gen-
only abortion clinic resumed what’s best for one’s life and under the old statute. eral Patrick Morrisey called
scheduling patients for abor- In West Virginia, Women’s future. We won’t stop fight- the ruling “a dark day for
tions, after a judge ruled in its Health Center began sched- ing for the ability to serve our During Monday’s court hear- West Virginia.” He said his
favor. And new restrictions uling patients for abortions patients with the care they ing, lawyers for the Women’s office will appeal.
on some abortions were in for as early as next week after need — not now, and not Health Center argued that

House to vote on same-sex marriage, responding to high court

(AP) — The U.S. House marriages amid concerns could jeopardize other With a robust but lopsided nine openly gay members of
prepared to vote Tuesday that the Supreme Court rights criticized by many debate, Democrats argued the House.
on legislation to protect ruling overturning Roe conservative Americans. intensely in favor of enshrin-
same-sex and interracial v. Wade abortion access ing marriage equality in fed- “Imagine telling the next
eral law, while Republicans generation of Americans,
steered clear of openly re- my generation, we no longer
jecting gay marriage. Instead, have the right to marry,” he
leading GOP lawmakers por- said. “Congress can’t allow
trayed the bill as unnecessary that to happen.”
amid other issues facing the
nation. While the Respect for Mar-
riage Act is expected to pass
Tuesday’s election-year the House, with a Demo-
roll call was partly political cratic majority, it is almost
strategy, forcing all House certain to stall in the evenly
members, Republicans and split Senate, where most Re-
Democrats, to go on the publicans would likely join
record with their views. It a filibuster to block it. It’s
also reflected the legislative one of several bills, includ-
branch pushing back against ing those enshrining abor-
an aggressive court that has tion access, that Democrats
sparked fears it may revisit are proposing to confront the
apparently settled U.S. laws. court’s conservative major-
ity. Another bill, guarantee-
“For me, this is personal,” ing access to contraceptive
said Rep. Mondaire Jones, D- services, is set for a vote later
N.Y., who said he was among this week.