Courts Overturn Abortion Poster Appeal
By micro99 at 7 October, 2008, 12:43 pm
The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down an appeal made by anti-abortion groups in Oregon to overturn the verdict of a lawsuit.
A number of activists had been ordered to pay $16 million after they drew up Wild West-style Wanted posters of abortion doctors in Portland.
Four of the doctors sued the protestors in 1995, arguing that the posters and an accompanying website featuring their names and addresses represented a threat against them. Many said they feared for their lives after being depicted on the posters and a number hired bodyguards.
On Monday (October 6), the court ruled that the verdict still stood, making it the third appeal by the activists that has been rejected.
Although the anti-abortion activists argued that the verdict violates their free speech rights under the Constitution, the verdict was reached under a 1994 federal law that makes it illegal to incite violence against abortion doctors.
Abortion law is largely governed by the U.S. Supreme Court. When states pass new laws, they are usually subjected to review by the court, which decides whether they comport with the federal Constitution or not.
Each state addresses abortion independently and what laws are passed or enforced is a legislative decision and a function of the political system.
No comments yet.