Planned Parenthood Wants Class-Action Status In Fight Against Arkansas’ Defunding Efforts
The reproductive health organization asked a federal judge to expand a ruling that temporarily blocks Arkansas from stopping payments to three women to cover a larger group of potential plaintiffs. In related legal news, a judge rules that anti-abortion activists can turn over their Planned Parenthood video tapes to Congress, and Arkansas urges the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Associated Press:
Planned Parenthood Asks Judge To Expand Arkansas Case
Planned Parenthood has asked a federal judge to expand a ruling that temporarily blocked Arkansas from cutting off Medicaid payments for three patients after the state canceled the organization’s contract amid controversy over videos secretly recorded by an anti-abortion group. The organization filed a request late Monday seeking class-action status for its lawsuit challenging Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s termination of its contract, saying the lawsuit should cover current and future Medicaid patients who seek treatment at Planned Parenthood. (Bleed, 10/6)
Reuters:
Planned Parenthood Seeks Class Action Status After Arkansas Cuts Payments
Planned Parenthood has sought class action status for its Medicaid patients in Arkansas after a U.S. judge ordered the state to continue payments to three women who challenged Arkansas' move to halt payments to the organization. The filing in federal court in Arkansas on Monday could reverse the state's decision to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood programs in the state, lawyers for the group said on Tuesday. (Barnes, 10/6)
Politico:
Judge Rules That Anti-Planned Parenthood Activists Can Give Congress Undercover Videos
Heading off a potential constitutional clash, a federal judge ruled Tuesday that anti-abortion activists can hand over unreleased undercover sting videos and outtakes subpoenaed by a House committee even though a court order remains in place barring those activists from releasing the materials publicly. U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick said Tuesday that he would not prevent activist David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress from complying with the subpoena issued last month by House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz. (Gerstein, 10/6)
Politico:
Arkansas To U.S. Supreme Court: Overturn Roe V. Wade
Arkansas has asked the Supreme Court to revisit its long-standing ruling that a woman can terminate a pregnancy until the fetus is viable outside of the womb.
Arkansas on Tuesday asked the justices to overturn a lower court decision that found that the state’s ban on abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy and when a heartbeat is detected is unconstitutional. (Haberkorn, 10/6)