Abortion

Adjust font size:

Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood

Hearing date: November 8

At issue: Whether a federal ban on a second-trimester abortion procedure critics call "partial-birth" is unconstitutional because it lacks a health exception.

The cases and arguments: U.S. appeals courts have ruled against the government, saying the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 2003 was unconstitutional because it did not provide a health exception to pregnant women facing a medical emergency. The ban effects two types of procedures generally performed after the 20th week of pregnancy. The law has never gone into effect, pending the outcome of more than two years of legal appeals.

The impact: The votes of the two newest justices, Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts, could offer an important legal barometer on whether the overall right to abortion may be in jeopardy in coming years.

Tools:
Save |
Print |
E-mail |
Most Popular |

Next story in Law

Law

Troops who get pregnant could face court martial

A new order from the general in charge of U.S. troops northern Iraq makes getting pregnant or impregnating a fellow soldier an offense punishable by court-m ...