Federal judge again blocks slate of abortion bans in Arkansas
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An abortion rights activist participates in a Stop Abortion Bans rally, organized by NARAL Pro-Choice California, in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 21, 2019. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 23 (UPI) A federal judge has blocked the state of Arkansas from enforcing multiple abortion bills that it s attempted to implement for more than three years.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a two-week restraining order to block four laws that ban the common abortion practice of dilation and evacuation for second-trimester abortions, require doctors to inform police if girls younger than 16 have an abortion, prohibit sex-selective abortions and regulate the disposal of fetal remains.
Credit Planned Parenthood Great Plains
A federal judge has blocked four laws restricting access to abortion in Arkansas just hours after they took effect.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Tuesday granted the request from abortion rights groups, issuing a two-week restraining order against the laws. Baker had previously put a halt to the laws in 2017, though a federal appeals court later vacated that ruling.
In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas said clinics were forced to cancel appointments and only provide medication abortion while the laws were temporarily in effect.
“Today, we got a preview of what would happen if these laws took effect permanently. It caused uncertainty about whether Arkansans can have access to abortion care and forced patients to be turned away, which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Jenny Ma, senior staff attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights.
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BSG Mining Billionaire Can t Trim $1.85B Fraud Lawsuit
Law360, London (December 18, 2020, 5:43 PM GMT) Two companies tied to an Israeli billionaire failed to beat back a former business partners $1.85 billion fraud lawsuit after a London judge refused Friday to pare down allegations related to a failed joint venture agreement in Africa.
High Court Judge Andrew Baker rejected an application for summary judgment filed by Nysco Management Corp. and its subsidiary, Balda Foundation, seeking to trim claims filed by Brazilian mining company Vale SA over a mining project in Guinea.
Arbitrators in London have already awarded Vale and a subsidiary $2.2 billion, and Judge Baker ruled Friday that nothing in their award or an underlying.
Judge refuses to dismiss Rapert from suit over blocking commenters on Facebook and Twitter UPDATE
Federal Judge Kristine Baker today refused to dismiss
Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway) as an individual defendant in the lawsuit over his blocking commenters on his
Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Her order affirmed that he enjoyed “qualified immunity” as a public official, meaning the plaintiffs could not receive monetary damages if found to have violated the plaintiffs’ free speech rights but said he could still be sued as an individual for continuing to block the plaintiffs. He claimed the statute of limitations barred their suit, but the judge said each day they continue to be barred amounts to a continuing rights violation. She hasn’t yet ruled on the merits.
Little Rock, AR December 15, 2020 Today, the civil rights organization American Atheists celebrated a victory in its lawsuit for free speech and religious equality against Arkansas State Senator Stanley Jason Rapert. Judge Kristine G. Baker of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas denied Rapert’s supplemental motion to dismiss the lawsuit against him in his individual capacity.
Judge Baker agreed with American Atheists on each and every argument Rapert raised in his motion. She ruled that two of American Atheists’ four plaintiffs are not barred by Arkansas’ three-year statute of limitations, since they “allege that State Senator Rapert