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While everyone is struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, some anti-abortion politicians across the United States and around the world are taking advantage of this crisis to further restrict abortion care.
That's why our lawyers have been working tirelessly to ensure that essential, time-sensitive abortion care remains accessible during this public health crisis. We're fighting harmful executive orders in four states to ensure abortion remains accessible.
When it comes to abortion, days matter. Leading medical groups and public health experts all agree: "The consequences of being unable to obtain an abortion profoundly impact a person's life, health, and well-being."
So we have gone to court in states around the country to make sure abortion care remains what it is: essential, time-sensitive health care. Our legal challenges to executive orders restricting abortion have been working.
Here's what Oklahoma Federal District Judge Charles Goodwin wrote in his decision to keep abortion care accessible in the state: "[Oklahoma] has acted in an 'unreasonable,' 'arbitrary,' and 'oppressive' way—and imposed an 'undue burden' on abortion access—in imposing requirements that effectively deny a right of access to abortion."
CASE UPDATES
In Louisiana, we filed our 28th lawsuit against the state, challenging the Louisiana Department of Health's Notice that when applied to abortion care would effectively ban all previability abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic. We're currently litigating three other cases to protect reproductive rights in the state, including one at the U.S. Supreme Court, June Medical Services v. Russo.
In Texas, we have experienced weeks of legal whiplash, as the district court has repeatedly ordered services to resume only to be reversed by the appellate court. During this confusing time, many patients have had to travel out-of-state to seek abortion care. A new executive order took effect today allowing many medical facilities, including our clients, to resume services. Because the threat of discriminatory enforcement against abortion providers remains, our lawsuit is ongoing.
In Tennessee, four days after we challenged the state’s harmful and medically unnecessary COVID-19 executive order, the district court ruled in our favor and blocked the order. We will now defend our win in the Court of Appeals.
In Oklahoma, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction (PI) allowing most abortion services in the state to continue and restoring full abortion access by the end of this week.
These states have been trying to eliminate access to abortion care for decades. Leveraging this pandemic to institute unwarranted restrictions is just their latest ploy. We will use every legal tool necessary to ensure abortion care remains accessible.
Stay updated on our cases here.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
"To Everyone Trying to Get an Abortion Right Now" is a series of videos we created in partnership with We Testify, an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions. We encourage you to share these messages of hope, solidarity, and love using the hashtag #AbortionIsEssential.
"The New Normal" is a digital salon hosted by Former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. The latest installment features a discussion about reproductive rights in the age of COVID-19 with the Center’s president and CEO Nancy Northup.
WHAT WE'RE READING
Center for Reproductive Rights: "Center and International Human Rights Partners Call on Poland to Reject Bills Restricting Sexual and Reproductive Rights"
The Washington Post: "Texas Politicians Are Cruelly Exploiting the Coronavirus to Restrict Access to Abortion"
New York Times: "Make Abortion More Available During the Pandemic — Not Less"
Glamour: "The Brutal Reality of Getting an Abortion During a Pandemic"
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
The Daily: "The Supreme Court Rules From Home"
Thank you so much for your continued interest in and support of our work!
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