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Supreme Court orders reconsideration of abortion protests
Also agrees to hear case against prosecutor
February 24, 1997
Web posted at: 3:50 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ordered lower courts Monday to reconsider rulings that allow restrictions on abortion protesters.
The order, not surprising in light of last week's ruling banning a "floating buffer zone" around abortion clinic patients or staff members, applies to cases involving a city ordinance in Phoenix and a state law in Colorado.
Both the Phoenix and Colorado measures require abortion protesters -- so-called "sidewalk counselors" -- to stay at least eight feet away from anyone within 100 feet of an abortion clinic, provided the protester is denied permission to approach.
The New York measure addressed last week required sidewalk counselors to stay 15 feet away. The justices ruled that such laws infringed on free speech, but upheld portions of the law creating a buffer zone around clinics.
Also agrees to hear case against prosecutor
In other action Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to decide:
- Whether a Seattle prosecutor can be sued for allegedly
making false statements while seeking arrest warrants;
- Whether to allow a lawsuit filed by citizens against
companies that miss the deadline to report use of hazardous
chemicals;
- What constitutes a "common bond" requirement for
membership in a federal credit union;
- Whether federal bribery and racketeering laws actually applied to a Texas county jail official who was convicted of taking bribes from a federal inmate in return for conjugal visits with his wife.
In two other rulings, the Court:
- Rejected without comment a Texas policeman's contention
that he was unfairly denied a promotion because he had an
affair with a fellow officer's wife who was a police
dispatcher in the department;
- Rejected without comment a civil rights lawsuit that argued that the televised search of a suspect's home is unconstitutional.
Related stories:
- Supreme Court upholds conviction for blocking abortion clinic - December, 2, 1996
- Supreme Court takes up issue of 'sidewalk' abortion - October, 16, 1996
- Supreme Court rejects abortion-restriction law - April 29, 1996
- Cardinal implores Clinton to sign abortion restriction - April 2, 1996
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