JACKSON—Two legislators and an anti-abortion group can’t immediately intervene in a suit that asserts a Wyoming abortion ban violates the state constitution, a district judge decided Monday.
After hearing oral arguments, Ninth District Judge Melissa Owens said she needs more time to determine whether the Republican lawmakers and a nonprofit can fully participate in a suit that has so far blocked the state from enacting the abortion ban law.
Owens heard about 40 minutes of arguments from Peter Modlin, who represented four women and two groups who challenged the Wyoming abortion-ban law, and Denise Harle, representing the legislators and Right to Life of Wyoming.
“This is an extremely difficult decision for this court,” Owens said. “I want to take my time in deciding this.”
She could issue a decision in a week or two, she said.
The challengers to the abortion ban, including Danielle Johnson, Kathleen Dow, Dr. Giovannina Anthony and Dr. Rene Hinkle, sued the state saying the 2022 abortion ban law violated Wyoming’s constitutional guarantee that individuals can make their own health care decisions. The legislators and Right to Life of Wyoming say they should be allowed to argue aspects of the issue that the Wyoming attorney general’s office is not addressing.
“They will be free to continue legislating and advocating.”
attorney Peter Modlin
The legislators — Reps. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody) and Chip Neiman (R-Hulett) — were sponsor and co-sponsor of the abortion ban bill respectively.
Rodriguez-Williams is CEO and executive director of the Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center, according to LinkedIn and briefs filed in the case. As a lawmaker, Neiman had the authority to regulate health and safety as part of his office, filings state.
Right to Life Wyoming should be allowed into the lawsuit because it was the chief lobbyist for the abortion ban law, which “rises or falls with this case,” Harle said. Should courts find the law unconstitutional, all the group’s work would be futile, she said.
“Their interests may not be adequately represented” by the attorney general’s office, Harle said of her clients. No one wants this case to go up to the Wyoming Supreme Court, a perceived inevitability, “on a one-sided record.”
Concern, not an interest
But none of the proposed intervenors established a valid reason for the privileged legal status, said Modlin, one of the attorneys challenging the abortion ban law.
The proposed intervenors had a concern, he said, rather than an interest that would be affected by the case’s outcome. Lawmakers can still pass laws, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, he said. Right to Life of Wyoming, “their interest comes down to advocacy,” he said.
“They will be free to continue legislating and advocating,” Modlin said; the case will not impair that.
Further, the proposed intervenors have the same objective as the state, Modlin argued, and so should not be allowed to participate directly.
“What it really boils down to is because the attorney general did not introduce evidence at the preliminary injunction case, [state attorneys] cannot be trusted to represent proposed intervenors interest,” Modlin said. Disputes over litigation status are not enough to rebut the presumption that the state and the proposed intervenors have the same objective, he said.
Right to Life of Wyoming and the lawmakers sought to argue points the plaintiffs themselves raised, such as whether a decision to have an abortion is a health care decision protected by the Wyoming Constitution. Harle’s clients believe the rights to make health care decisions “do not, and never were understood, to create or protect a right to elective abortion in Wyoming,” a brief states.
Harle asked that if Owens decides the intervenors shouldn’t be allowed to participate as a matter of law, the judge should let them into the case on a permissive basis. In contrast, Modlin said the proposed intervenors can participate by filing amicus briefs. Those are legal papers that aim to help the court decide an issue but are filed by parties who cannot make direct arguments in the courtroom.
Sadly those the most involved and impacted have NO voice or choice….the unjborn baby.
And you want to remove the voice or choice from the only other being involved…… the mother.
“The unborn” are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don’t resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they don’t ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they don’t need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they don’t bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus, but actually dislike people who breathe. Prisoners? Immigrants? The sick? The poor? Widows? Orphans? All the groups that are specifically mentioned in the Bible? They all get thrown under the bus for the unborn.”
― Methodist Pastor David Barnhart
AMEN!!
I don’t remember anyone voting for “Right to Life Wyoming” to represent Wyoming residents about anything. Especially in court.
As for the court case, it won’t settle the abortion issues in Wyoming. Republicans cna go back to the legal drawing board whenever they want.
Put the abortion issues to a vote. Let the people decide. SCOTUS didn’t say abortion was unconstitutional. They left the issue in the hands of voters.
Birth control is a better option for all concerned. Rodriguez-Williams has stated that she might support curtailing access to contraception.
These people want to use the court to make a grandstand and garner contributions. Amicus briefs are specifically designed for them to do present their views without wasting the court’s valuable time. Based on the Wyoming Constitution, the Attorney General is the best spokesman for the state. That individual is responsible for representing the state, independent of whoever holds that office. These individuals should butt out, especially since this law violates the very constitutional amendment that Right to Life advocated a few years ago.
Now we get to see if “Rule of Law” still exists in Wyoming, and whether the Wyoming Constitution is worth the paper it was written on. We may even get to see if the Wyoming Supreme Court has been co-opted into being a political weapon of a political party like the SCOTUS has.
Those with the most to lose (their lives) have no voice. How many women spend the rest of their lives mourning the child they killed and trying to live with the guilt? Has anyone ever done a study on the long term impact on the mother who had her baby destroyed? grief and self recrimination have to have a life time effect on her.
Marion Dickenson, as a counselor, that answer is NONE. All of my clients believe they made the best choice for themselves at the time. There is no grief and recrimination. To have been forced to give birth would have been utterly detrimental to their lives and futures, and in some cases, have tied them to men who were abusive and controlling.
I continue to support that this is, indeed, a healthcare decision between woman and doctor.
Has anyone ever done a study as to how many women who get abortions turn right around and get pregnant again? I saw it happen several times in the small area where I was working as an OB nurse then a nurse-midwife some years ago.
I haven’t seen any report or study but I know two individuals who did go through with their abortions, one who did it more than once. Neither of them have had a. happy or normal life since. Both have had drug or drinking issues and abnormal relationships with their families. The families in both cases were supportive of the woman to differing degrees. So I can’t say from anything other than that but I know my one of these women was a relative of mine and she is still in a battle to get her life in order. The other woman was my roommate many years ago and last I knew her life was in a down ward spiral. Both have talked about their decision and even though they won’t say they regret it they will say their life has never been the same since. So, I would wonder about the mental health of these women. I know two others who thought of abortion and then didn’t do it. One was raped and then gave the baby up for adoption the other a native american woman decided to keep her baby even though she faced a lot within her native people. She went on to become a nurse within her community. The one who gave her child up for adoption has never regretted her decision and has gone on to marry and have a family. Both seem to be doing better than the two who chose abortion. But that is just my experience with 4 women put in that situation. I only wish the best for whoever has to make such a decision. It is a huge one that from what I have seen no matter what they choose could affect them for the rest of their lives.
Actually, i think there have been studies done on the after effects of abortion on a woman’s psychological health and while some may have regrets most do not. I never did
Very few.
Not your concern. The decision belongs the individual who has rights and the physicians who treat the patient. You have no standing.
Keep your religious beliefs in your home and church. The majority of men and women are not religious and should not be forced to adhere to your beliefs. In addition there is a huge wall between religion and government and it is still in tact. You want to save lives. Get rid of your guns. That is a real problem.
Thank you Bobbi and Sheryl for your comments, you both ,are totally thinking logically on this topic. I cannot believe abortion is still an issue at this time, we actually should worry about climate change affecting our food and water supply, this is the real concern.
All this syrup and regurgitation of lies is upsetting no one but your fillers. Truth is
1 none of your business
2 lies will not change the truth
3 religious fervor and trying to make someone feel bad for a decision that is none of your business in the first place is harassment
Wyoming guarantees all citizens the right to healthcare and this is exactly what this is.