Ashcroft, abortion opponents lose latest round of court challenges to ballot language

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | November 1, 2023 | Kurt Erickson , Jack Suntrup

[Morgana]

JEFFERSON CITY — A state appeals court Tuesday shot down Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s bid to inject political language into a ballot question aimed at restoring abortion rights in Missouri.

Acting quickly on a hot-button issue that has been slowed by litigation, the Missouri Court of Appeals at Kansas City unanimously rejected the gubernatorial candidate’s appeal to reverse a lower court decision to strike and rewrite summary statements for six reproductive freedom ballot initiatives.

As part of his job as secretary of state, Ashcroft is tasked with writing ballot summaries for proposed constitutional changes. A physician sued over six petitions she filed after Ashcroft wrote summaries that she said were biased.

Ashcroft’s language asked if voters wanted to “allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice.”

In a ruling written by Judge Thomas Chapman, a three-judge panel of the appeals court agreed Ashcroft crossed a line.

“The Secretary’s summary statements are replete with politically partisan language,” Chapman wrote.

Ashcroft also appealed over the way Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem rewrote the summaries, arguing that he didn’t include language outlining the dangers of abortion.

Again, the court sided with Beetem, saying his summary was “fair and sufficient.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, which has been handling the case for Dr. Anna Fitz-James, cheered the ruling, which came a day after the case was heard in a Kansas City courtroom with Ashcroft sitting with other attorneys arguing the case.

[griswold3]

Hegel would be proud of today’s Leftists. “Reproductive Rights” ?? Really??

[Boogieman]

Funny how “reproductive rights” hinge on the ability to make sure you never reproduce.

[ActresponsiblyinVA]

Or try to reproduce without any long term responsibility.

[dpetty121263]

Proving the United States will not survive for long as God is done with it..

[Jan_Sobieski]

Jay is the son of John Ashcroft. These elite families do not represent us.

[Antoninus]

Translation: “The only partisan language allowed is OUR partisan language.”

[daniel1212]

Ashcroft’s language asked if voters wanted to “allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice."

To weak: ask voters if they want to “allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted murder of unborn children, for any reason aside from saving the physical life of the mother, from conception to live birth, regardless if a medical license is required or not.