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Amy Coney Barrett: Supreme Court Anti-Abortionist
Photo: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS
In a dispute over an extremely strict abortion law in the state of Texas, the US Supreme Court has heard the case.
The so-called heartbeat law forbids almost all abortions.
The US government sued Texas over the law.
On Monday, the Supreme Court primarily dealt with the question of whether the Ministry of Justice can even challenge the regulation in this form.
US Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar accused Texas of breaching the constitution during the hearing.
The law was designed to prevent judicial review, she said.
The conservatively governed state has shifted enforcement of the law from state agencies to private individuals.
They can take civil action against anyone who helps a woman with an abortion.
Actually, according to a principle judgment in the USA, abortions are allowed until the fetus is viable - today until about the 24th week of pregnancy.
Amy Coney Barrett signals sympathy
The US broadcaster CNN reports that the conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett asked the abortion provider plaintiffs some friendly questions that showed some sympathy for their argument. Among other things, she pointed out that the design of the Texas law appeared to contradict the previous case law of the Supreme Court.
Dozens of people gathered in front of the court in the US capital Washington. The law prevents women from having access to safe medical care, protester Jenny said. “This case is about so much more than abortion. It's about every constitutional right, ”said Molly Duane, a lawyer at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Critics of the law fear that the way in which it is designed could serve as a template to restrict other constitutionally protected rights.
In front of the court, Pro Choice protesters met anti-abortionists.
"We believe that this law is a step in the right direction to protect hundreds of lives every day," emphasized protester Stephanie from the anti-abortion organization Students for Life.
"Ultimately, we want all life to be protected."
muk / dpa
