Noteworthy: This was an 11-6 majority opinion. Four of the judges in that majority are Trump appointees.
A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld an Ohio law that restricts government funding of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
In an 11-6 ruling, the full 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a ruling from the lower court and ruled against two Planned Parenthood affiliates that challenged the law. The Cincinnati-based court found the measure does not violate the Constitution and ruled the affiliates “do not have a due process right to perform abortions.”
“The Ohio law does not violate a woman’s right to obtain an abortion,” Judge Jeffrey Sutton, appointed by former President George W. Bush, wrote for the majority. “It does not condition a woman’s access to any of these public health programs on refusing to obtain an abortion. It makes these programs available to every woman, whether she seeks an abortion or not.”
Four judges nominated to the 6th Circuit by President Trump joined the majority.
Dr. Leana Wen, president of Planned Parenthood, said the appeals court’s ruling will hurt women’s and children’s health.