Abortion

Texas AG sues out-of-state doctor over mail-order abortion pills

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued a New York doctor this week for allegedly prescribing abortion pills to a suburban Dallas woman in violation of Texas law—setting up the first major legal challenge to “shield laws” enacted by some Democratic-led states to protect doctors providing abortion access after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Dec 16, 2024 10:30 AM CST

Idaho can enforce ban on aid to minors who leave state for abortions, with one exception, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has blocked just one provision of Idaho’s abortion-trafficking law that bans aid to minors getting abortions.

Dec 3, 2024 10:15 AM CST

Anti-abortion princess explains her friendship with Justice Alito after he discloses $900 gift

A German princess has said she first met U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito at a Catholic conference while summering in Rome.

Oct 23, 2024 12:18 PM CDT

Supreme Court allows HHS to divert funds over abortion referrals

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Biden administration to strip millions of health care dollars from Oklahoma over its refusal to direct patients to information about abortions—a federal requirement that the state says would be at odds with its strict ban on terminating pregnancies.

Sep 5, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

5th Circuit becomes ‘proving ground’ for aggressive arguments by conservatives

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has become "a proving ground for some of the most aggressive conservative arguments in American law,” according to the New York Times.

Sep 4, 2024 8:59 AM CDT

151-year-old Comstock Act is ‘relic’ that should be overturned, House urges

The House of Delegates urged the U.S. Congress to repeal a 151-year-old law that could be used to ban abortions at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago on Monday.

Aug 5, 2024 12:39 PM CDT

Summer reading picks and why a YMCA-funded crusade against obscenity matters today

Do you need some distractions during vacation travel or while lying directly under your A/C unit and sweating? It’s time for The Modern Law Library’s summer recommendations episode.

Jul 10, 2024 3:15 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS term reveals deeply divided justices frustrated with one another

At times, some have referred to the Supreme Court as “nine scorpions in a bottle.” That metaphor seems especially appropriate this year, though I would describe them as “nine angry scorpions in a bottle.” There is a strong sense that it is a deeply divided court. There were a total of 59 opinions, and 23 were 6-3 and another five were 5-4.

Jul 3, 2024 8:44 AM CDT

‘Storm clouds loom ahead’ after Supreme Court dismisses abortion dispute, Justice Jackson says

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday turned aside an Idaho abortion dispute, which had the effect of blocking Idaho from enforcing its abortion ban in emergency situations.

Jun 27, 2024 11:04 AM CDT

Supreme Court would allow emergency abortions in Idaho, Bloomberg reports

The Supreme Court would allow emergency abortion care in Idaho for now despite the state’s restrictions on the procedure, according to Bloomberg Law, which viewed a copy of a not-yet-released opinion that was briefly posted on the court’s website Wednesday.

Jun 26, 2024 1:11 PM CDT

Law students support free speech but want LSAT and bar exams gone, new survey says

The vast majority of law students support free speech, and more than half say the LSAT and bar exams must go, according to a new survey released by the Buckley Institute at Yale University.

Jun 25, 2024 11:34 AM CDT

Justice Thomas questions associational standing; would his view end diversity challenges?

Justice Clarence Thomas took a dim view of associational standing in a concurrence last week to the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion drug mifepristone decision, a stance that could interfere with diversity challenges.

Jun 18, 2024 12:14 PM CDT

Expanded access to abortion drug remains intact after Supreme Court says challengers lack standing

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that anti-abortion medical groups and doctors who challenged expanded access to the abortion drug mifepristone lacked standing to sue.

Jun 13, 2024 9:32 AM CDT

Texas man files legal action to probe ex-partner’s out-of-state abortion

As soon as Collin Davis found out his ex-partner was planning to travel to Colorado to have an abortion in late February, the Texas man retained a high-powered antiabortion attorney—who court records show immediately issued a legal threat.

May 6, 2024 12:45 PM CDT

Conservative justices skeptical federal law requires emergency room abortions

Conservative Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism Wednesday that federal law can require hospitals to provide emergency abortion care in states with strict bans on the procedure, marking the latest legal battle over abortion access since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago.

Apr 25, 2024 2:15 PM CDT