But godliness with contentment is great gain. - 1 Timothy 6:6

U.S. Supreme Court Rulings - January 2006

Clearly Caring Magazine, March/April 2006, Vol. 26. No. 2

Three decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2006 which were especially pertinent to life and family concerns:

Wisconsin Right to Life v. Federal Election Commission
On Monday, January 23, 2006 the Court ruled unanimously to return to the District Court for consideration a challenge made by Wisconsin Right to Life (WRL). WRL challenges a component of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Legislation that prohibits mentioning the name of a candidate in a broadcast ad within 30 days of a primary election and 60 days before a general election. Barbara Lyons, Executive Director of WRL, explained: Wisconsin Right to Life is asking for a grassroots lobbying exception to the McCain-Feingold law as long as the ads talk about a genuine issues before the U.S. Congress and do not mention an election[w]e look forward to the district court getting to the merits of the case.

Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood
On Wednesday, January 18, 2006 the Court ruled unanimously that states can require parental involvement in abortion decisions. What that means remains unclear. The Court also ruled that state restrictions must include an exception to protect the mothers health (mental and/or physical health). Both sides of the abortion issues hailed the decision as a victory. Pro-life advocates hailed the ruling as a victory to more critically review abortion laws. Abortion advocates hailed the ruling, because it reinforces the idea that mental and physical health issues must be considered in any attempt to restrict abortion rights. Specifically the case involved ambiguity in New Hampshire legislation that allowed parental involvement relating to a minors abortion decision. Rather than throwing out all restrictions to abortion access because of dispute over one matter, the Court allows a more modest approach that allows disputes over components of the legislation.

Gonzales v. Oregon
On Tuesday, January 17, 2006 the Court ruled 6-3 to prevent the federal government from punishing doctors who prescribe controlled substances for suicide purposes. While advocates of the Oregon law allowing assisted suicide hailed this ruling as a victory, it was quite narrow. This was not a ruling on the right to commit suicide. The Court ruled in 1997 that there is no such right. Rather, this ruling stated that the U.S. Attorney General overextended his authority in applying the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to doctors prescribing controlled substances. In writing for the majority Justice Anthony Kennedy stated, The Government, in the end, maintains that the prescription requirement [of the CSA] delegates to a single Executive officer the power to effect a radical shift of authority from the states to the Federal Government to define general standards of medical practice in every locality ... the text and structure of the CSA show that Congress did not have this far-reaching intent to alter the federal-state balance and the congressional role in maintaining it. It was the contention of the Court that the CSA was narrowly defined to stop drug abuse and drug trafficking. As such the Court clearly is demonstrating its desire to make the issue of assisted suicide a states-rights issue. It is feared this ruling will soon result in more states introducing bills to legalize physician assisted suicide. Kennedy was joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day OConnor, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Justices in dissent of the ruling were Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice John Roberts.

History of the Wisconsin Right to Life v. Federal Election Commission Case
http://www.christianliferesources.com/index.php?library/view.php&articleid=1180

Article Shortcut: http://www.christianliferesources.com?6030

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