Last week, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s office filed a formal notice that it will appeal U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker’s decision to block the state from enforcing four good, pro-life laws.
This will put the four pro-life laws before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Eighth Circuit has recently overturned two of Judge Baker’s past decisions against other pro-life laws and policies.
In 2015 the Arkansas Legislature passed a law requiring abortion clinics performing chemical abortions to contract with a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital to handle complications from the abortion. In 2016, Judge Baker blocked that law from being enforced.
Last July, a three-judge panel at the Eighth Circuit overturned Judge Baker’s decision, paving the way for this good law to be enforced in Arkansas.
In 2015, Governor Hutchinson directed the state to cut Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood. Following a lawsuit, Judge Baker ruled Arkansas must continue giving Medicaid money to the abortion provider.
However, on August 16 another three-judge panel at the Eighth Circuit overturned that decision as well.
Given the fact the Eighth Circuit has reversed two of Judge Baker’s rulings already, I believe there is a good possibility the Eighth Circuit will reverse her decision against these four pro-life laws as well.
Photo Credit: By Brian Turner (Flickr: My Trusty Gavel) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
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