Supreme Court Rules For Abortion Protesters In Civil Disobedience Case (RICO)

Associated Press / SFGate ^

[RCW2001]

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a federal racketeering law was improperly used to punish aggressive anti-abortion protesters, a major victory for people who regularly block clinic doors.

The court's 8-0 ruling applies to protests of all sorts, not just at clinics.

[Petronski]

Not only a victory for us -- but also (I hope) a first step in rolling back the insidious abuses of RICO!

Not only a victory for us -- but also (I hope) a first step in rolling back the insidious abuses of ABORTION!

I like both statements.

[HighRoadToChina]

MEGA BUMP!!!

[xzins]

Excellent.

What do you think Rehnquist meant by "obtain" property?

[irish_links]

"...NO one has the right to someone's money. If "commerce" is stopped because someone has been persuaded to change (his) mind, God's angels rejoice, and another "business" losses a buck. It's the American way...."

It all depends on how one is trying to persuade. Offering leaflets to women entering a clinic or saying the rosary are clearly protected free speech. Touching women entering a clinic, impeding their path, yelling abusive statements, making threatening statements to employees etc. are not necessarily protected free speech. The supremes have stated today that the death industry cannot use RICO to punish protestors. I don't believe they have given the protestors free reign to engage in harassing activities or otherwise disrupting legal commerce.

[Dan(9698)]

>>>...Now the fun part.........Watching Jennings, Brokaw, & Rather present this in the evening news.......

When you hear a few second of dead airtime while they go to commercial, you will know that they presented it as much as they will.

[Campion]

Thank you, Jesus!

[Sacajaweau]

The timing of this is interesting...And didn't Estrada write something on this?? That may be in those memos.

Let's see if they stop asking for the memos now.

[Numbers Guy]

This is a great ruling - notice that with the exception of Stevens, even the liberals and pro-abortion judges *still* ruled for the pro-lifers. Thank you, God.

If they had ruled otherwise the ruling would have bit the Left right on the rear end. If RICO suits were permitted against people who do not have a direct financial stake in picketing outside a business, then PETA and all sorts of other leftie groups would have been just as vulnerable as right to life groups.

That fact probably explains why the liberal justices saw fit to rule based on the Constitution rather than ideology.

[lady lawyer]

According to the opinion, the definition of "obtaining" property under the Hobbs Act entails both a "deprivation" and "acquisition" of property. In this case, the protesters may have "deprived" someone of a "property" right to obtain or perform abortions. But the protesters were not attempting to "acquire" that "property." Hence, no "obtaining," of property, and no violation of the Hobbs Act.

[tutstar]

Pro life bump

[FreeTally]

Did everyone catch these leading sentences? They have no shame.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that federal racketeering and extortion laws cannot be used against anti-abortion groups for engaging in a nationwide conspiracy to shut down health clinics.

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a federal racketeering law was improperly used to punish aggressive anti-abortion rights protesters, a major victory for people who regularly block clinic doors.

[Tucson]

The Supreme Court holds the key to the survival or death of this Republic. There are enough cases in the appellate pipeline at any one time to either usurp or to solidify, for a foreseeable future, the founders' view of their Constitution.

It will not happen with our power gourging Congress, nor through a charismatic executive. Short of sunsetting every law currently on the books and starting from the beginning, the only hope for the future of this country is a Supreme Court which interprets law against both the expressed language of the Constitution and the writings of both those who proposed it (Federalist Papers) and those who warned against it and predicted its consequences (Anti-Federalist Papers).

[OldFriend]

Wouldn't that mean it was 8-1 rather than 8-0.......

Not being picky, just trying to educate myself.

[amused]

That is fantastic news.

[Notwithstanding]

LIFE LIFE LIFE LIFE

[Notwithstanding]

LIFE LIFE LIFE LIFE

[Siobhan]

A GIANT ROSARY BUMP FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You're mental.

Don't you have to go find some plastique and det cord to blow up a clinic with?

[kassie]

I can just hear the whine now, but it was 8-0.

[bvw]

Has Nina Totenberg passed out yet?