Federal Court Rejects Planned Parenthood RU-486 Appeal
On Friday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals denied an appeal by Planned Parenthood to reconsider Ohio restrictions of RU-486 that had been decided by a partial court in October.
In October, the Court upheld a 2004 Ohio law that restricts the use of the drug RU-486, also known as mifepristone or the "abortion pill," beyond seven weeks, making a surgical procedure the only option for many women seeking to terminate a pregnancy. The law also requires clinics to administer the medications in exact accordance with FDA regulations even though many clinics administer the pill in safe off-label methods.
The decision on Friday means the restrictions on the abortion pill are likely to remain permanent. This could also set an example for other states with legal challenges to similar restrictions such as Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee.
Media Resources: RH Reality Check 12/3/12; Americans United for Life 11/30/12; Feminist Newswire 10/3/12
6/19/2013 House Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban - Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks gestation in a vote of 228 to 196. . . .
6/18/2013 Supreme Court Strikes Down Proof of Citizenship Voter Requirements - On Monday, the United States Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed register to vote.
In an opinion written [PDF] by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court ruled that the Arizona statute violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, also known as the "Motor Voter Law") of 1993, which created a federal form that individuals can mail in to register to vote in federal elections. . . .
