US judge blocks new Illinois law allowing state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers
US judge blocks new Illinois law allowing state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers
apnews.com
US judge blocks new Illinois law allowing state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers
A federal judge has blocked a new Illinois law that allows the state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers if they use deception to interfere with patients seeking the procedure.
This article is frustratingly vague on what the judge actually did. Probably because it's not nearly as clickbaity. The judge has blocked enforcement of the new law until the lawsuit has been resolved. Given the 1st amendment implications that's the right call for the judge to make even if the law is ultimately upheld.
Let’s preface this with… “I dunno” cuz I’m not from Illinois and don’t know the actual text of the law.
However, if the law is indeed going after deceptive practices in clinics to prevent people from seeking medical care…
That should already be a crime.
I'm no lawyer, but I don't think the first amendment gives you the right to lie to people with no consequences
It depends on what these "clinics" entail. For example, if they charge money, existing fraud laws should cover it.
It's always frustrating when these cases end up in the hands of Trump-appointed judges. More often than not they're ruling based on their ideology rather than the law.
I think you are underestimating the significance of the ruling. In cases like this, judges issue temporary injunctions if they believe the law will most likely be found unconstitutional when the lawsuit is resolved. The judge described the law as a "blatant violation of the 1st Amendment", indicating that he will most likely issue a permanent injunction later.
So it's only the "right call" if you agree with him. And if it matters to anyone, this judge is a Trump appointee.
No. It's perfectly reasonable to at once support women's rights over their own bodies but also see serious first amendment questions in this sort of law.
A similar law that targeted abortion providers would be similarly problematic. If you don't see it that way then you aren't looking at the question from the perspective of the first amendment.
Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m not sure what you mean.
It’s common in lawsuits such as this for one party to make a motion to block enforcement of the law pending the results of the case. In extreme cases, the judge may grant such an injunction. This all seems straightforward to me. Frankly, the title pretty much gives away the whole article, which is the opposite of what happens with clickbait.
In the entire article, there's only one sentence that even implies the decision isn't a final ruling.