Anti-Abortion Extremists Suffer Major Court Defeat
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled unanimously in favor of National Organization for Women (NOW) in NOW v. Scheidler, the civil case where anti-abortion extremists were found to have conspired to illegally close women’s reproductive health clinics, using threats and extortionate acts against doctors, clinic employees and patients, in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The decision is a major victory for the plaintiffs, NOW, Feminist Majority Foundation president Eleanor Smeal who, as president of NOW in 1986, initiated the case, two clinics in Delaware and Milwaukee owned by Susan Hill who is president of the National Women’s Health Organization, and clinics and pro-choice supporters everywhere. The attorneys involved, led by Faye Clayton of Robinson, Curley and Clayton, were assisted during the appeal by Feminist Majority Foundation’s Legal Director at the time, Sara N. Love.
“After fifteen long years, this is an unequivocal victory against the reign of terror at our nations’ clinics. It could not have happened at a better time. Both domestic terrorists and global terrorists must get the message: the United States has zero tolerance for the use of violence to determine public policy,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
The Court found that the repeated assaults by Scheidler et. al. and those acting in concert with them, including restraining clinic workers and patients, entering clinics and destroying medical equipment and blocking doorways and entrances to clinics, were violations of the Hobbs Act and RICO. The Seventh Circuit upheld the nationwide injunction put in place by the lower court that prohibits any of the plaintiffs from obstructing access to clinics, damaging clinic property, or using force or threats of force against clinics, employees, staff, and patients.
The Court rejected Scheidler’s defense that its actions were protected by the First Amendment stating “the record is replete with evidence of instances in which their conduct crossed the line from protected speech to illegal acts, including acts of violence.” Further, the Court stated that letters sent by Joseph Scheidler, a key anti-abortion extremist, to clinics promising assaults if the clinic remained open “constituted true threats outside the protection of the First Amendment.” Because the defendants were board members of the same organization, participated in the planning of assaults, and wrote letters in support of such acts, the Court found that the organization itself, not simply isolated members, had illegal aims.
This litigation began before the enactment of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and extremists like Scheidler terrorized abortion clinics without fear of federal law enforcement intervention. NOW decided that a litigation strategy was essential to stop these attacks and began this case. In these fifteen years, NOW’s novel legal strategy was challenged repeatedly; NOW attorney Clayton, successfully defended all attacks, including in the Supreme Court.
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
