• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

SCOTUS turns down abortion clinic buffer zone challenge, Thomas slams ‘abdication’ of duty

by February 24, 2025
written by February 24, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a pro-life challenge against protest restrictions around abortion clinics in Illinois, as activists argued the laws infringe on their First Amendment rights, a decision met with a fiery dissent by Justice Clarence Thomas.

The court rejected appeals from Coalition Life, which describes itself as ‘America’s Largest Professional Sidewalk Counseling Organization’ in New Jersey and Illinois, which had challenged previous lower court rulings that dismissed their lawsuits. 

Pro-life activists in the case argued that ‘buffer zones’ – which were established after a previous Supreme Court decision in Colorado to shield patients from harassment – around abortion clinics violate their First Amendment rights to free speech.

Thomas and fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito dissented, with Thomas arguing SCOTUS should have taken up the case, Coalition Life v. City of Carbondale, Illinois. Alito did not explain his reasoning in writing.

The votes of four justices are required to grant a writ of certiorari to bring a case up for review.

Thomas said Hill v. Colorado ‘has been seriously undermined, if not completely eroded, and our refusal to provide clarity is an abdication of our judicial duty.’ He added that he would’ve used the Coalition Life case to override the Hill decision.

‘This case would have allowed us to provide needed clarity to lower courts,’ Thomas wrote in his dissent.

In that case, decided in 2000, the Supreme Court upheld a Colorado statute that prohibited individuals from ‘knowingly’ approaching within eight feet of another person within 100 feet of a healthcare facility entrance, without consent, for purposes such as passing out literature, displaying signs, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling. 

The court determined this law was a content-neutral regulation of the time, place and manner of speech, serving the state’s interest in protecting individuals entering healthcare facilities from unwanted communication. The decision was 6-3, with Justices Thomas, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy dissenting.

The City of Carbondale, in southern Illinois, saw an uptick in pro-life protests after two clinics opened following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. As such, the city passed ordinances modeled after Colorado’s statutes.

Urging the court to revisit the Hill precedent, Thomas quoted from an excerpt in Alito’s majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center – the case that overturned Roe v. Wade – where he noted that abortion-related cases on other legal precedents had ‘distorted First Amendment doctrines.’

One key case that followed Hill v. Colorado is McCullen v. Coakley, where the Supreme Court ruled in 2014 on a Massachusetts law that established a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics. The high court found that while the state had a legitimate interest in protecting patients and staff from harassment, the law was overly broad, included too much space and infringed on free speech rights.

The court struck down the law, distinguishing it from the Hill decision.

In 2019, New York upheld a 15-foot buffer zone law outside of clinics, and similar laws have been debated in states like California, Maryland and Washington.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Coalition Life for comment. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
France’s Macron meets with Trump at the White House
next post
DOGE, EPA team up to claw back $67 million in ‘environmental justice’ grants

related articles

Retired judges criticize Trump admin over arrest of...

May 8, 2025

REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports...

May 8, 2025

Trump halts military strikes on Houthis but expert...

May 8, 2025

Lone Republican becomes only lawmaker to vote against...

May 8, 2025

‘New sheriff in town’: State finance leader rallies...

May 7, 2025

Trump offers to help India, Pakistan amid growing...

May 7, 2025

Trump announces MAHA advocate Casey Means will be...

May 7, 2025

Trump to rename Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf...

May 7, 2025

Top House committees accuse Dem fundraising giant of...

May 7, 2025

President Trump announces multiple judicial nominees, accuses court...

May 7, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Amazon workers must return to office full time, CEO says

    September 17, 2024
  • Mike Rogers replacing Wray as FBI director is not happening, Trump adviser says

    November 22, 2024
  • Zelenskyy answers whether he’s willing to cede Crimea, other territory in peace deal

    November 20, 2024
  • ‘Be aware’: House lawmakers describe what it’s like living under threat by China, Iran

    November 25, 2024
  • Southwest Airlines’ move to end open-seating a strategic genius or a mistake?

    July 30, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 3

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 4

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (4,418)
  • Investing (593)
  • Stock (733)

Latest Posts

  • Europe markets open: Gains expected after Trump walks back Powell dismissal, trade hopes rise

    April 23, 2025
  • Biden legacy includes relentless push for transgender agenda

    December 8, 2024
  • Special counsel Jack Smith asks court to halt his appeal against Trump in Florida case

    November 14, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Domino’s Pizza stock crashes as American consumer struggles with rising food prices

    July 18, 2024
  • Judge releases more Jack Smith Trump investigation docs to the public

    October 18, 2024
  • Trump’s speedy Cabinet picks show his ‘priority to put America first,’ transition team says

    November 13, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Harris claims she ‘made clear’ her position on fracking in 2020 – transcript shows another story

    August 30, 2024
  • MARK HALPERIN: 5 truths Republicans and Democrats should know to be ready to accept the election results

    October 24, 2024
  • Chaos erupts at GOP lawmaker’s town hall after left-wing groups promote protests

    March 19, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Email Whitelisting

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock