Those wishing to increase abortions in Arizona celebrated today when the Supreme Court refused to overturn a decision blocking the state’s law blocking abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The Court’s refusal to hear the case leaves the ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in place that said the law preserving the lives of babies after 20 weeks was unconstitutional.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the ban into law in April 2012. Abortion advocates immediately ran to court to have the law struck down.
The appeals court said that the law violated the right to kill a baby through abortion before the child is considered “viable” by the government. The court said that was generally considered to be 24 weeks.
Lawyers representing the state said the ban was not technically a law but a medical regulation because doctors could perform abortions in medical emergencies.
In a blow to religious freedom, the lawsuit brought by Liberty University concerning controversial parts of the Obamacare law has been dismissed after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.
The filing by Liberty covered a variety of objections to the law including the individual mandate requiring individuals to purchase health insurance.
The dismissal comes as the court agreed to hear two challenges to Obamacare regarding the requirement of Christian business owners to pay for medical procedures that go against God’s word such as abortion. That case will be heard before the end of June.
The court’s refusal of the case also dismissed claims made by two individuals against Obamacare.
The Supreme Court is considering a case that involves prayers at the opening of government meetings.
An anti-Christianist in Greece, New York sued the town because they had opened their meetings with prayers that the resident considered “overtly Christian.” They claimed that the prayers violated their Constitutional right to not hear prayers.
A federal appears court ruled the city was violating the Constitution. Observers at the court noted the questions and tone of the judges indicated the Court would likely not agree with the lower court’s ruling as it stands.
The case has surprised some observers in that along with the usual social and religious conservative groups backing the town’s position what they’re doing is legal, the Obama administration has joined in support of the town.
The potentially decisive vote in the case, analysts believe, could be Justice Anthony Kennedy who seemed dissatisfied with the positions of both the town and the resident.
The case is expected to be decided by June.
The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a case regarding prayers before a town meeting and whether or not it violates the First Amendment.
The town of Greece, New York allowed prayers before town meetings and two residents complained about the process. They filed suit in federal court when he city refused to give in to their demands to stop. Continue reading →