Latest news with #MyronThompson
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal Judge rules in favor of abortion advocates, against AL Attorney General threats
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Even though abortion is illegal in Alabama, officials do not have the right to prosecute women seeking an abortion in a state where it is legal, under their right to travel. Federal Judge Myron Thompson ruled Monday that individuals and groups, including healthcare providers, are protected under that same right. The decision comes after Attorney General Steve Marshall threatened to prosecute anyone who helps a woman cross state lines for the procedure. Florence mom sues man accused of raping teen he checked out of school, says administrators didn't check ID 'At its core, this case is simply about whether a State may prevent people within its borders from going to another State, and from assisting others in going to another State, to engage in lawful conduct there. . .The court now answers no, a State cannot.' Judge Myron Thompson, U.S. District Judge Middle Court of Alabama The ruling stated that Marshall initially made such threats while on a radio talk show. Yellowhammer Fund filed a lawsuit against Marshall after the threats became public. The group is an 'abortion advocacy and reproductive rights organization serving Alabama, Mississippi, and the Deep South'. The group offers funding assistance from donations to individuals who may need help paying for travel for said procedures. Will Alabama lawmakers cut taxes on overtime pay or groceries? Jamila Johnson, Senior Counsel with the Lawyering Project, represented the Yellowhammer Fund in the lawsuit. Johnson told News 19 that Marshall's threats forced the nonprofit to freeze its funds due to fears of prosecution. 'Yellowhammer Fund had to keep its abortion fund dormant for years out of fear that it or its supporters would be criminalized or prosecuted for trying to help people do something that they lawfully had a right to do,' Johnson said. Judge Thompson stated in his ruling that there could be no end to prosecuting legal out-of-state activity that is illegal here at home if Marshall had clearance to do this. Thompson wrote that it opens the door for Marshall to even prosecute those planning to gamble in Las Vegas. 'If Alabama held the power its Attorney General asserts here, it is hard to envision a limitingprinciple besides what the Attorney General personally sees as permissible and impermissible…For example, the Alabama Attorney General would have within his reach the authority to prosecute Alabamians planning a Las Vegas bachelor party, complete with casinos and gambling, since casino-style gambling is outlawed in Alabama.' Judge Myron Thompson, U.S. District Judge Middle Court of Alabama A representative from the Attorney General's office said the state is looking into its options. 'The Office is reviewing the decision to determine the State's options.' Spokesperson, Attorney General's Office The Attorney General's Office can appeal the federal judge's decision. If it does, the case will then be sent to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The ruling in its entirety can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Alabama can't prosecute groups who help women travel to get an abortion, federal judge says
Alabama's attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled Monday. US District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson's ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person's right to travel. Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. However, he said he would 'look at closely' whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama's criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest. 'It is one thing for Alabama to outlaw by statute what happens in its own backyard. It is another thing for the state to enforce its values and laws, as chosen by the attorney general, outside its boundaries by punishing its citizens and others who help individuals travel to another state to engage in conduct that is lawful there but the attorney general finds to be contrary to Alabama's values and laws,' Thompson wrote in the 131-page opinion. Thompson said it would be the same as the state trying to prosecute Alabamians planning a Las Vegas bachelor party since casino gambling is also outlawed in the state. Yellowhammer Fund, an obstetrician and others had filed lawsuits seeking a court declaration that such prosecutions are not allowed. 'Today is a good day for pregnant Alabamians who need lawful out-of-state abortion care,' Jenice Fountain, executive director of Yellowhammer Fund, said in a statement. 'The efforts of Alabama's attorney general to isolate pregnant people from their communities and support systems has failed.' A spokesperson for the Alabama attorney general's office said, 'the office is reviewing the decision to determine the State's options.'
The Guardian
01-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Judge rules Alabama cannot prosecute those who help with out-of-state abortions
Alabama's attorney general cannot prosecute individuals and groups that help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled on Monday. US district judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama's attorney general, Steve Marshall, after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson's ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the first amendment and a person's right to travel. Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. However, he said he would 'look at closely' whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama's criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for the Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. 'It is one thing for Alabama to outlaw by statute what happens in its own backyard. It is another thing for the state to enforce its values and laws, as chosen by the attorney general, outside its boundaries by punishing its citizens and others who help individuals travel to another state to engage in conduct that is lawful there but the attorney general finds to be contrary to Alabama's values and laws,' Thompson wrote in the 131-page opinion. Thompson said it would be the same as the state trying to prosecute Alabamians planning a Las Vegas bachelor party since casino gambling is also outlawed in the state. The Yellowhammer Fund, an obstetrician and others had filed lawsuits seeking a court declaration that such prosecutions are not allowed. 'Today is a good day for pregnant Alabamians who need lawful out-of-state abortion care,' Jenice Fountain, executive director of the Yellowhammer Fund, said in a statement. 'The efforts of Alabama's attorney general to isolate pregnant people from their communities and support systems has failed.' A spokesperson for the Alabama attorney general's office said 'the office is reviewing the decision to determine the state's options'.
CNN
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Alabama can't prosecute groups who help women travel to get an abortion, federal judge says
Alabama's attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled Monday. US District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson's ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person's right to travel. Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. However, he said he would 'look at closely' whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama's criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest. 'It is one thing for Alabama to outlaw by statute what happens in its own backyard. It is another thing for the state to enforce its values and laws, as chosen by the attorney general, outside its boundaries by punishing its citizens and others who help individuals travel to another state to engage in conduct that is lawful there but the attorney general finds to be contrary to Alabama's values and laws,' Thompson wrote in the 131-page opinion. Thompson said it would be the same as the state trying to prosecute Alabamians planning a Las Vegas bachelor party since casino gambling is also outlawed in the state. Yellowhammer Fund, an obstetrician and others had filed lawsuits seeking a court declaration that such prosecutions are not allowed. 'Today is a good day for pregnant Alabamians who need lawful out-of-state abortion care,' Jenice Fountain, executive director of Yellowhammer Fund, said in a statement. 'The efforts of Alabama's attorney general to isolate pregnant people from their communities and support systems has failed.' A spokesperson for the Alabama attorney general's office said, 'the office is reviewing the decision to determine the State's options.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge blocks prosecutions in Alabama for out-of-state abortion assistance
Alabama's attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled on Monday. US District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. The ruling declared such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person's right to travel. Mr Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. He said he would 'look closely' at whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama's criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest. Mr Thompson wrote in the 131-page opinion: 'It is one thing for Alabama to outlaw by statute what happens in its backyard. 'It is another thing for the state to enforce its values and laws, as chosen by the attorney general, outside its boundaries by punishing its citizens and others who help individuals travel to another state to engage in conduct that is lawful there but the attorney general finds to be contrary to Alabama's values and laws.' Mr Thompson said it would be the same as the state trying to prosecute people from Alabama planning a Las Vegas bachelor party because casino gambling is also outlawed in the state. The Yellowhammer Fund and others had filed lawsuits seeking a court declaration that such prosecutions are not allowed. 'Today is a good day for pregnant Alabamians who need lawful out-of-state abortion care,' Yellowhammer Fund executive director Jenice Fountain said in a statement. 'The efforts of Alabama's attorney general to isolate pregnant people from their communities and support systems has failed.' A spokesperson for the Alabama attorney general's office said 'the Office is reviewing the decision to determine the State's options'.
