The Supreme Court decided important cases today on political bribery, abortion rights and gun rights. The highest court struck down a restrictive Texas abortion law and vacated former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell’s bribery conviction. It upheld a federal gun law that forbids gun ownership if convicted of domestic violence. The court ruled that Texas’ HB2 draconian abortion law is unconstitutional and struck down the abortion law which unduly interferes with the rights of women to obtain an abortion. In a decided ruling of 5-3, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas HB2 law which placed strict standards against abortion doctors, clinics and almost closed all access to abortion in Texas is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court rejected Texas’ argument that the law was intended to protect women’s safety. The law was written to block women’s access to abortions in the State of Texas. While Congress or the Senate has failed to pass any meaningful laws on gun control, the Supreme … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Sweeps in Final Week
Texas
Justice Scalia’s Presence in Texas Abortion Case
On March 2, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on a Texas abortion law that aims to make it extremely difficult for abortion clinics to operate in Texas. The case of Whole Women’s Health versus Hellerstetd will determine whether Texas may require that abortion clinics have admitting privileges at a local hospital and whether abortion clinics must meet ambulatory surgical center requirements. Meeting ambulatory surgical center requirements may cost millions of dollars for a clinic. Texas law also forbids abortion after 20 weeks. While these two requirements may seem reasonable on their face, there is no apparent medical need for them. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists state there is no need for admitting requirements for abortion providers, citing abortions’ low complication rates. And a 2013 study that reviewed the health departments of every state, found no medical reason for admitting requirements. The 2013 study arose as a result of the … [Read more...] about Justice Scalia’s Presence in Texas Abortion Case
McKinney Police Incident Makes Me Ask if it’s 1950 or 2015
As I was attempting to relax and unwind on a Sunday afternoon at my local Starbucks, I happened upon the McKinney, Texas police video taken on Friday, June 5 of excessive force used once again on blacks. This time, it was an out of control police officer using excessive force and treating black teenagers at a Texas community pool as if they were visiting a whites only pool in the Jim Crow south in 1950. The only thing he needed to be truly reminiscent of the 1950’s were the police dogs, batons and hoses. I hope we will not ever go back to those days. The video is set forth here. The back story is apparently police were called to a community pool for a disturbance. The video shows the clearly disturbing activity was the police and the treatment of young blacks in bathing suits and pool attire. Gawker spoke with the individual filming the video. There are so many issues that can be addressed by the video starting with the excessive force by an out of control angry police officer used … [Read more...] about McKinney Police Incident Makes Me Ask if it’s 1950 or 2015