Thanks to Vanessa for noting that Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge had found another out-of-state case to stick her nose into, this time joining the Trump administration in preventing an undocumented 17-year-old immigrant from obtaining an abortion.

Rutledge, according to the New York Times, was one of eight states intervening to prevent the young woman, being held in a Texas shelter, from having an abortion.

Advertisement

In a brief filed in support of the federal officials, eight states — Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina — worried that if the court allowed Jane Doe to have an abortion, “there will be no meaningful limit on the constitutional rights an unlawfully-present alien can invoke simply by trying to enter this country.”

This isn’t about anything but abortion and the desire of Trump and Rutledge and their ilk to stop it no matter how many rights they abridge in the process. The administration likes to subject women who want an abortion to the proselytizing of “crisis pregnancy” center, many of which use religion and scientific baloney to discourage abortions.

The D.C. Circuit Court has temporarily stayed a district judge’s decision that the young woman should be allowed to have the abortion she seeks. It will hear arguments Friday morning in an unusual hastily called hearing.

Advertisement

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article Judge sets $17.6 million damages in deaths from botched 911 call Next article Deficits don’t matter any more; tax cuts for the rich do