Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court refused Monday to prevent a Missouri prison inmate from getting an abortion. Without comment, the high court lifted a temporary stay blocking a federal judge's ruling that Missouri officials had to drive the woman to a clinic to have the procedure over the weekend. Late Friday, Justice Clarence Thomas had granted a temporary stay at that ruling, but Monday's high court decision was unanimous. Missouri's law forbids spending tax dollars to facilitate an abortion, but the federal judge took the position that the prison system in Missouri was blocking her from exercising that right....

Kansas City, Mo. (AP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court late Friday temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that Missouri prison officials drive a pregnant inmate to a clinic on Saturday for an abortion. Justice Clarence Thomas, acting alone, granted the temporary stay pending a further decision by himself or the full court. Missouri state law forbids spending tax dollars to facilitate an abortion. However, U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple ruled Thursday that the prison system was blocking the woman from exercising her right to an abortion and ordered that the woman be taken to the clinic Saturday. An appeals court...