Law Center Files Friend of the Court Brief Supporting Arizona’s New Pro-Life Law

Arizona Seeking Review at the U.S. Supreme Court

 Attorneys for the Virginia Christian Alliance, Concerned Women for America, and the Independence Law Center filed a friend-of-the-court brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Court to give greater freedom to the states in crafting abortion laws.

Ever since Roe v. Wade, the Court has sharply limited the ability of states to regulate abortion prior to viability.  However, Arizona recently passed a law prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Arizona legislature cited evidence demonstrating increased health risks to the mother after 20 weeks as well as evidence that 20 week-old unborn babies feel pain during the abortion procedure. Because the law conflicts with Roe’s viability standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down the law. Arizona is seeking review at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The friend-of-the-court brief is being filed on behalf of the Governor of Oklahoma, various female state legislators from around the U.S. (including Pennsylvania), Concerned Women for America, and the Susan B. Anthony List. It argues that state government should be able to limit abortions at 20 weeks in order to protect women and to avoid the barbarism of abortion, particularly when the unborn child feels pain. Please pray that the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the matter and gives more freedom to the states to restrict this procedure.

The Independence Law Center specializes in religious liberties, life, and traditional values, and provides its work free of charge. For more information on our work or to partner with us financially, visit the law center at www.independencelawcenter.org.