Archive for Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Judge upholds abortion law
July 29, 2008
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Wichita — A Sedgwick County judge ruled Monday that the Kansas abortion statute is constitutional, denying a defense motion to dismiss a criminal case brought against one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers.
The 35-page decision handed down by Sedgwick County District Judge Clark Owens spurns several challenges to the statute under both the U.S. Constitution and the Kansas Constitution brought by defense attorneys for Dr. George Tiller.
"Abortion jurisprudence in this country has been going through an evolutionary process since Roe V. Wade in 1973," Owens wrote, adding that in light of all the interpretations, the statute survives all the constitutional challenges.
Former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison filed 19 misdemeanor charges against Tiller in June 2007, alleging he broke a 1998 state law requiring that a second, independent Kansas physician sign off on late-term abortions of viable fetuses. Two doctors, without financial or legal ties, must conclude that if the pregnancy continues, the mother will die or face "substantial and irreversible" harm to "a major bodily function," which has been interpreted to include mental health.
Tiller relied on Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus, of Nortonville, for his second opinion on abortions in 2003, and she had a financial relationship with him that is against the law.
Tiller's attorneys contend that the law creates an unconstitutional burden on a physician's right to practice medicine and a woman's right to obtain an abortion. They also argued that the Kansas law was unconstitutionally vague. His defense attorneys also challenged it on the basis of violating a right to travel because of the requirement a woman be seen by two separate physicians in Kansas.
Ashley Anstaett, spokeswoman for the Kansas Attorney General's office, said Monday after the decision was handed down that prosecutors will move forward with the criminal case.
The decision came as a disappointment for Tiller's defense team, but was hailed by abortion opponents.
"We certainly respect the decision of the judge, but we hasten to point out that the decision on this one legal point does nothing to affect Dr. Tiller's innocence of the very technical charge still set for jury trial," said Dan Monnat, one of Tiller's defense lawyers.
More like this
- Tiller challenges Kansas abortion law 58 comments / July 3, 2007
- Decision on charges against Tiller expected within 2 weeks 8 comments / July 16, 2008
- Judge delays ruling in abortion case 10 comments / November 3, 2007
- Judge withdraws from Tiller case 1 comment / August 18, 2007
- Tiller judge former abortion activist 46 comments / August 11, 2007
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29 July 2008
at 11:22 a.m.
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bondmen (Anonymous) says…
A major setback for Tiller the Killer and his bloody baby exterminating legal tag team. Now on to trial and upholding Kansas law which he apparently, knowingly and wantonly broke - like the bones and lives of his precious, innocent victims and their mothers.
29 July 2008
at 11:40 a.m.
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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
Despite Paul Morrison's massive failures in his personal life, this decision solidifies the fact that Morrison was/is *clearly* the superior litigator and prosecutor, over the legal bumbling and hamfisted clumsiness of Phill Kline.None of Kline's cases against Dr. George Tiller ever survived the first court challenge.But then, what real attorney would let their law license expire (for a two-bit radio show), anyway…?Agnostickagnostick@excite.comhttp://www.independentvoting.orghttp://marciaford.blogspot.com
29 July 2008
at 12:09 p.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Tiller The Killer may well be headed for the Greybar Hotel.With any luck, the Kansas Angel of Death will be locked away for years and I hope that he does drop the soap regularly.
29 July 2008
at 3:05 p.m.
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SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
How can Tiller and his henchmen complain when Kansas abortion law is one of the most infanticide-friendly in the country? Our law fully supports those who would profit financially from the extermination developing human life.
29 July 2008
at 6:52 p.m.
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TJ_in_Lawrence (Anonymous) says…
Funny how Tiller likes the law when it protects him and allows him to kill the unborn, but thinks the law is unconstitutional when he is found in violation of it. Hmmmm I think that is called hypocrisy.
29 July 2008
at 7:13 p.m.
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tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
parkay: “We will have justice.”What proceedings or penalty can deliver justice?
29 July 2008
at 7:20 p.m.
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beobachter (Anonymous) says…
justice would be stopping all the nuts like parkay from not realizing the law is the law. even when your blind religious fanaticism doesn't allow you to accept that fact.
29 July 2008
at 7:36 p.m.
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bad_dog (Anonymous) says…
I'm not aware of Judge Owen's disposition toward abortion overall, but I do know Dan Monnat and he's a very clever, creative and effective criminal lawyer. Don't count your convictions just yet. I've seen him do more with less to work with. Even if Tiller is convicted, there are years of appeals ahead. Tiller has too much to lose to do otherwise and I'd have to believe he will appeal this and any other adverse rulings all the way to the US Supreme Court, if necessary.