Federal Judge Blocks New Abortion Bill

NBC website ^ | 11/05 | Wil H

[Wil H]

Injunction Doesn't Apply Nationwide

A federal judge in Nebraska blocked implementation of a federal ban on certain late-term abortions Wednesday less than an hour after President George W. Bush signed the ban into law.

Judge Richard Kopf said his injunction wouldn't apply nationwide. The temporary restraining order applies only to the four doctors in Nebraska who filed the suit he was hearing.

In his ruling, Kopf cited the law's lack of an exception to preserve the health of women seeking the abortion.

Kopf said Congress may have felt no health exception is needed, but the Supreme Court has ruled otherwise. He said it would be "at the very least, problematic" for him to defer to the ban.

A White House spokesman said the goverment will "vigorously defend this law in the courts," and he said the law will be upheld.

Lawyers on both sides of the issue are arguing before Kopf in a lawsuit filed on behalf of several doctors who perform abortions. The judge hasn't yet scheduled the next hearing in the case.

Backers of the suit say that when the measure takes effect, doctors will risk jail time for providing what they think is proper medical care.

At the start of the hearing, Kopf said the measure Bush signed appears to be "highly suspect" and that it may be vague. The judge also said it appears lawmakers didn't give an "objective" presentation of the facts as they debated the bill.

Similar challenges are being heard in New York and San Francisco.

[Wil H]

This activist judge can be reached at richard_kopf@ned.uscourts.gov Let him know how you feel.

I asked him why bashing in a baby's skull and sucking out it's brains would lessen the danger to a mother than an otherwise normal premature delivery.

[Semper Paratus]

That didn't take long.

[Humidston]

Gee, the Green River Killer blew it. If he'd used the argument that he merely performed LATE LATE TERM ABORTIONS he could have walked - with a judge like Kopf!

/extreme sarcasm

[anniegetyourgun]

The bloodmoney industry has lots of friends in high places....especially the judiciary.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I expected more level headedness from a Nebraska judge.

[steplock]

My 2 cents emailed...


Perhaps the entire world would have been much better of if only your MOTHER were offered this partial birth abortion procedure and the "doctors" sucked all what little you have for barins out of your crushed skull.

Have a nice lifetime of nightmares of DEAD BABIES.

[spunkets]

"I asked him why bashing in a baby's skull and sucking out it's brains would lessen the danger to a mother than an otherwise normal premature delivery."

You'll get the same response you would if you asked one of my cats where they've been all day. This guy's parents had to bribe the schools consistently to get him passed out of and beyond the 3rd grade.

[eleni121]

Judge Kopf-Himmler's Disciple

[anniegetyourgun]

So, he really is a dumb as he looks.

[steplock]

Reading this makes me very ill.

[spunkets]

"So, he really is a dumb as he looks."

His own mouth betrayed him.

[ohioman]

I guess the Judge is a bit of a Dumb-Kopf.

[jsbankston]

He is a H.W. Bush Appointee.

[Evil Inc]

Maybe we need to go from the other side. Merely say any fetus capable of living outside the womb is a viable human being and failing to take all possible measures to save its life is murder or just manslaughter.

[Naspino]

Merely say any fetus capable of living outside the womb is a viable human being and failing to take all possible measures to save its life is murder or just manslaughter.

I wouldn't mind a heavy handed approach like that. You can think its not a law all you want but you'll be arrested and tried just the same. I like it.

[WillRain]

Can someone kindly get the appropriate flag behind this guy?

[eleni121]

I heard that he was appointed by Bush Sr.

[Quick1]

Maybe if the part of the law concerning the mother's health hadn't been so vaguely written, he wouldn't have issued the injunction?

[Joe Boucher]

I don't mean to be an anti jewish, but is this guy a liberal jewish judge?
I don't advocate violence but I'd like to see this guy made an example of.