Annual Report 2010-2011 - Center for Reproductive Rights

ALASKAFILED: 11.19.10 The Centerfiles suit against the State ofAlaska, challenging a parentalnotification law for womenunder the age of 18. The Centerargues that the law violates theconstitutional rights of Alaskanminors and will put some atrisk of severe harm, particularlythose in abusive homes.DECIDED: 12.13.10 The SuperiorCourt judge issues a partialinjunction, allowing the noticeprovision to take effect, butprohibiting enforcement of manyof the law’s most burdensomerequirements, including thecriminal penalties. A trial willtake place in January 2012.KANSASFILED: 6.28.11 The Center filesa federal lawsuit challengingonerous licensing regulationsfor abortion providers that givea mere two-week compliancedeadline. At the time of filing,the laws were set to shut downall three of Kansas’s remainingabortion providers. 07.01.11 Afederal district judge in Kansasblocks enforcement of thenew licensing regulations forabortion providers until the caseis resolved. The ruling keeps allthree abortion providers in thestate open.MARYLANDFILED: The Archbishop of Baltimore, with others,files a federal lawsuit against the City of Baltimorethat challenges an ordinance requiring crisispregnancy centers to post signs indicating theirlack of referrals for abortion or comprehensive birthcontrol services. 06.08.10 The Center joins theCity of Baltimore to defend this first-in-the-nationordinance demanding truth in advertising.BUILDING AFIREWALL.OKLAHOMAFILED: 09.29.09 The Center challenges asunconstitutional a state law that would imposeextensive abortion-reporting requirements onphysicians, impose a ban on sex-selectiveabortions, and cost the state over a quartermillion dollars a year to enforce.DECIDED: 2.19.10: The Oklahoma CountyDistrict Court overturns the law.NORTH DAKOTAFILED: 07.18.11 The Center files suitagainst new and unnecessary restrictionson the safe and common use of FDAapproveddrugs to induce first-trimesterabortions that would, in fact, banmedication abortions entirely.TEXASFILED: 06.13.11 The Center files a class actionlawsuit against a law prohibiting a woman fromgetting an abortion unless the doctor performsan ultrasound, takes steps to show and describethe ultrasound images, and plays the sound ofthe fetal heart—even if she says no. The womanmust then wait at least 24 hours before she canobtain an abortion (two hours for women wholive more than 100 miles from a provider).LOUISIANAFILED: 08.06.10 The Centerfiles a federal challenge againsttwo abortion restrictions,one excluding doctors whoperform abortions from amedical malpractice fundand the other requiring allpregnant women receive anultrasound and a photograph ofthe ultrasound image, even ifthe woman is a rape or incestvictim or diagnosed with afetal abnormality. 08.11.10 Afederal court temporarily blocksenforcement of two provisions ofthe ultrasound lawFILED: 9.13.10 The Centerfiles a case in state courtchallenging actions by theLouisiana Department ofHealth and Hospitals orderingan immediate suspension andseeking permanent revocationof the clinic’s operating license,on the grounds that the State’saction violates the clinic’sconstitutional and statutoryrights. 9.21.10 The courtgranted a preliminary injunctionbarring the suspension orderuntil the clinic’s legal claims areresolved.38 39 center for reproductive rights