Alabama can’t prosecute groups who help women travel to get an abortion, federal judge says

[Loulit01]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/us/alabama-abortion-groups-ruling/index.html

Montgomery, AlabamaAP —
Alabama’s attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled Monday.

US District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson’s ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person’s right to travel.

Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. However, he said he would “look at closely” whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama’s criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution.

Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Jersey looks better and better to me every day.

 

[NatMorton]

They idea that people could be prosecuted for such an action comes from two sources:

• Far right politicians pandering to their base.
• Far left politicians attempting to frighten their base.

Anyone with even a superficial understanding of state and federal law would know that such a case would have been thrown out. It's no different than, say, a state where gambling is illegal going after the airlines for flying their citizens to Vegas.

 

[Slartibartfast]

This has echoes of the fugitive slave act and the effect on the concept of states rights.

 

[bongsaway]

They idea that people could be prosecuted for such an action comes from two sources:

• Far right politicians pandering to their base.
• Far left politicians attempting to frighten their base.

Anyone with even a superficial understanding of state and federal law would know that such a case would have been thrown out. It's no different than, say, a state where gambling is illegal going after the airlines for flying their citizens to Vegas.

So why do republicans pull this shit over and over?

 

[NatMorton]

So why do republicans pull this shit over and over?

If you think about it, you'll come to realize they "pull this shit" for the same reason Democrats pull theirs.

 

[Loulit01]

If you think about it, you'll come to realize they "pull this shit" for the same reason Democrats pull theirs.

And what reason would that be?

 

[NatMorton]

And what reason would that be?

You too need to think it through. If your can come up with a reason why the Republicans are trying to stir up their base there's a good reason you've also answered the same questions for Democrats.

 

[bongsaway]

If you think about it, you'll come to realize they "pull this shit" for the same reason Democrats pull theirs.

Really? Is that what you tell yourself?

 

[bongsaway]

You too need to think it through. If your can come up with a reason why the Republicans are trying to stir up their base there's a good reason you've also answered the same questions for Democrats.

Let's do the good old dance around the mulberry tree of bullshit. All you guys do is innuendo but you're sure lacking in facts.

 

[NatMorton]

Really? Is that what you tell yourself?

Yes, it is. And it's what you should be telling yourself, too.

 

[NatMorton]

Let's do the good old dance around the mulberry tree of bullshit. All you guys do is innuendo but you're sure lacking in facts.

Hardly. The same scare tactic, reversed, is being used in states like PA that are attempting to pass do-nothing "shield laws."

You and I even discussed such a law in this thread:

Pennsylvania House passes ‘shield law’ to protect providers, out-of-staters seeking abortions

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-access-pennsylvania-out-of-state-protection-7ec5009ec08073807a47513717a95c79 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill seeking to protect those who travel to Pennsylvania to get abortions by barring public officials from cooperating with authorities in other states that...

debatepolitics.com

 

[bongsaway]

Yes, it is. And it's what you should be telling yourself, too.

I've also been told I need to accept others god. At this point in my life, I'm not really good at doing what I'm told because I don't have to. As long as I follow the rules of the land, that's all that concerns me, not you telling me what I should be telling myself.

 

[Bodecea]

They idea that people could be prosecuted for such an action comes from two sources:

• Far right politicians pandering to their base.
• Far left politicians attempting to frighten their base.

Anyone with even a superficial understanding of state and federal law would know that such a case would have been thrown out. It's no different than, say, a state where gambling is illegal going after the airlines for flying their citizens to Vegas.

And Roe v Wade was safe,.

 

[Bodecea]

Hardly. The same scare tactic, reversed, is being used in states like PA that are attempting to pass do-nothing "shield laws."

You and I even discussed such a law in this thread:

Pennsylvania House passes ‘shield law’ to protect providers, out-of-staters seeking abortions

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-access-pennsylvania-out-of-state-protection-7ec5009ec08073807a47513717a95c79 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill seeking to protect those who travel to Pennsylvania to get abortions by barring public officials from cooperating with authorities in other states that...

debatepolitics.com

Roe v Wade.....

 

[bongsaway]

Hardly. The same scare tactic, reversed, is being used in states like PA that are attempting to pass do-nothing "shield laws."

You and I even discussed such a law in this thread:

Pennsylvania House passes ‘shield law’ to protect providers, out-of-staters seeking abortions

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-access-pennsylvania-out-of-state-protection-7ec5009ec08073807a47513717a95c79 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill seeking to protect those who travel to Pennsylvania to get abortions by barring public officials from cooperating with authorities in other states that...

debatepolitics.com

So when trump says he's going to deport ten million people, that's ok. But when a Democrat says trump is going to try to deport ten million people, we're using fear tactics. Am I getting that properly?

 

[j brown's body]

They idea that people could be prosecuted for such an action comes from two sources:

• Far right politicians pandering to their base.
• Far left politicians attempting to frighten their base.

Anyone with even a superficial understanding of state and federal law would know that such a case would have been thrown out. It's no different than, say, a state where gambling is illegal going after the airlines for flying their citizens to Vegas.

Oh, it's real enough.

More Texas counties are trying to prevent people from using specific roads to get an abortion

A Texas county near New Mexico has banned helping people traveling to get an abortion. Lubbock County is now the largest of four Texas counties that have adopted a version of the measure.

apnews.com

Federal judge puts Idaho's 'abortion trafficking' law on hold during lawsuit

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Idaho’s “abortion trafficking” law from being enforced while a lawsuit is underway.

apnews.com

 

[bongsaway]

If you think about it, you'll come to realize they "pull this shit" for the same reason Democrats pull theirs.

Here's the big difference, the Democrats are trying to protect Americans from the crazy Republicans. The republicans are the ones doing their very best to take away existing rights that hurt people. One party hurts people the other tries to help people and you support the people trying to dish out the hurt, or am I wrong?

 

[Loulit01]

You too need to think it through. If your can come up with a reason why the Republicans are trying to stir up their base there's a good reason you've also answered the same questions for Democrats.

So you have no idea.

 

[NatMorton]

So when trump says he's going to deport ten million people, that's ok. But when a Democrat says trump is going to try to deport ten million people, we're using fear tactics. Am I getting that properly?

Try to stay on topic. We're not discussing immigration.

 

[NatMorton]

So you have no idea.

No, but you do seem to be implying you have no idea.

 

[Gordy327]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/us/alabama-abortion-groups-ruling/index.html

Montgomery, AlabamaAP —
Alabama’s attorney general cannot prosecute people and groups who help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled Monday.

US District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. Thompson’s ruling declared that such prosecutions would violate both the First Amendment and a person’s right to travel.

Marshall has not pursued any such prosecutions. However, he said he would “look at closely” whether facilitating out-of-state abortions is a violation of Alabama’s criminal conspiracy laws. The ruling was a victory for Yellowhammer Fund, an abortion assistance fund that had paused providing financial assistance to low-income people in the state because of the possibility of prosecution.

Good call by the judge.

Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Jersey looks better and better to me every day.

And Alabama looks worse and worse by the day. Any state looks better than Alabama by comparison. Except maybe Texas.

 

[Lursa]

Hardly. The same scare tactic, reversed, is being used in states like PA that are attempting to pass do-nothing "shield laws."

You and I even discussed such a law in this thread:

Pennsylvania House passes ‘shield law’ to protect providers, out-of-staters seeking abortions

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-access-pennsylvania-out-of-state-protection-7ec5009ec08073807a47513717a95c79 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill seeking to protect those who travel to Pennsylvania to get abortions by barring public officials from cooperating with authorities in other states that...

debatepolitics.com

Please explain how that's a "scare tactic?"

Also, how are shield laws "do-nothing?" Right now, we have NY State actively refusing to comply with TX and LA requests to assist them in prosecuting providers of pills.

 

[NatMorton]

Please explain how that's a "scare tactic?"

Also, how are shield laws "do-nothing?" Right now, we have NY State actively refusing to comply with TX and LA requests to assist them in prosecuting providers of pills.

They are do-nothing laws because it is already illegal for a state like Alabama to charge with a crime anyone associated with an abortion if that abortion is performed in another state. It's a scare tactic because those pushing "shield laws" are preying on their base's ignorance of the law.

 

[Lursa]

They are do-nothing laws because it is already illegal for a state like Alabama to charge with a crime anyone associated with an abortion if that abortion is performed in another state.

The laws provide a source for the doctors and providers to find out how to respond, legally, to such contacts or to know that they can ignore it without wasting $ and time. Doctors and providers are not generally legal professionals.

It's a scare tactic because those pushing "shield laws" are preying on their base's ignorance of the law.

I disagree. In WA St when they created our shield laws they were created for consistency in response, clarification in the support the providers could legally expect and get from the state, and how the providers should respond when contacted by medical or legal professionals from outside the state. It was all codified and shared so that doctors and providers would know exactly how they were protected and how to respond...so, no worries about spending time or funds on their own solutions. It also informed judges, that they had state support in not creating/serving subpoenas, etc...it codified the state's response to such "illegal" actions in general. If all that equals "do nothing", please clarify your characterization.

If it's illegal for other states to do this, as you state...why arent states like NY taking legal action against them? Is there some way to hold those red states accountable for wasting taxpayer $ and breaking the law? It seems like they are using illegal actions "as scare tactics,' as intimidation.

 

[StillBallin75]

They idea that people could be prosecuted for such an action comes from two sources:

• Far right politicians pandering to their base.
• Far left politicians attempting to frighten their base.

Anyone with even a superficial understanding of state and federal law would know that such a case would have been thrown out. It's no different than, say, a state where gambling is illegal going after the airlines for flying their citizens to Vegas.

Fascists don't give a ****, they'll just throw whatever at the wall and hope it sticks, and it's worked for them. This is the same dynamic with birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment and yet they will throw all kinds of wack ass arguments at the issue hoping that a bought judge can give them what they want (which to this point even Trump-appointed judges have told them to **** off, at least for now).