A federal judge blocked Idaho authorities Tuesday from prosecuting Planned Parenthood for helping women and girls travel out of state to kill their unborn babies in elective abortions.
Immediately afterward, pro-life leaders warned that U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill’s ruling will put women’s and children’s lives at risk.
The case, filed by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, claims the Idaho abortion ban violates their free speech rights based on a letter from Attorney General Raúl Labrador in March, The Daily News reports.
After reading Labrador’s interpretation of the law in the letter, the abortion chain said its staff stopped referring women and girls out of state for abortions because they feared prosecution.
Labrador responded that he wrote the private letter to state Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, in March and later withdrew it, according to the report. His office said the correspondence was meant to be private legal advice only.
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On Monday, however, Winmill agreed with the abortion group’s request and blocked authorities from prosecuting individuals for abortion referrals. Then on Tuesday, the judge denied Labrador’s appeal, the report continues.
“In his 28-year career you’d be hard pressed to find a time when Judge Winmill has ruled against Planned Parenthood, so his decision is not surprising,” said Beth Cahill, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office. “Judge Winmill wants to restrain a power we don’t possess. We strongly disagree with his order.”
After the ruling, ACLU of Idaho attorney Colleen Smith said Planned Parenthood facilities will begin offering abortion referrals again. Idaho law protects unborn babies by banning elective abortions, but most of its neighboring states allow abortion on demand.
Stanton Healthcare, a pro-life organization, expressed concern that the ruling will open the doors to “abortion trafficking” practices in Idaho that benefit the abortion industry but harm women and girls.
“Outside groups and individuals will now be targeting Idaho’s pregnant women for profit and personal gain by promoting and selling the abortion pill,” said Brandi Swindell, founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, in a statement provided to LifeNews. “Out-of-state and overseas ‘drug cartel-type’ groups who are promoting mail-order abortions should never be tolerated.”
Swindell said Idaho pro-life laws protect women and girls as well as their unborn babies, and her organization is working to provide them with support. Stanton Healthcare offers professional medical care, practical and emotional support, women’s wellness care and more, with a special focus on refugee and marginalized communities. Based in Idaho, the organization has affiliates across the U.S. and internationally.
Swindell said pro-life advocates and Idaho lawmakers are striving to build “a wall of protection around women facing unexpected pregnancies through life-affirming legislation which promotes well-being and hope.”
Along with protecting unborn babies from abortion, Idaho also passed a law, signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little in April, to protect young victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse by ensuring that their parents are involved if they want – or are being coerced into – an abortion.
