reproductive rights

A stock photo of a judge's gavel on a desk, a law book and the scales of justice.

‘Life begins at conception’ court ruling could profoundly affect NC families, legal experts say

BY: - October 27, 2023

Imagine putting a mother in jail because authorities determined that, over the course of her pregnancy, she should have exercised more, drank less coffee and taken more prenatal vitamins. “Is the mother’s conduct going to be monitored like that because this is a living being now, at the moment of conception?” said Suzanne Reynolds, dean […]

A view of the outside of the NC Court of Appeals building

NC Appeals Court: Mom who committed crime while pregnant can lose parental rights

BY: - October 18, 2023

The state Court of Appeals issued a ruling Tuesday that affirmed the termination of a mother’s parental rights — even though the child hadn’t yet been born at the time of the mother’s crimes — because “life begins at conception.” The mother had pleaded guilty to felony child abuse of another child, which prompted a […]

men anti-abortion protesters stand outside a building

A men’s movement takes reins in a nationwide quest to end abortion

BY: - September 16, 2023

Wendell Shrock doesn’t believe in condoms. “We should leave the uterus to God,” the street preacher from Tennessee tells States Newsroom, in front of an abortion clinic outside of Atlanta, mid-morning in late July. Sweat drips from his cowboy hat into his salt-and-pepper beard that stretches halfway down his red-plaid shirt. The retired police officer […]

Hundreds of protesters against a measure that would make it more difficult to change the Ohio constitution

Not just Ohio: Biased language is the hot new tactic to thwart ballot measures

BY: - August 31, 2023

Abortion-rights supporters filed a lawsuit Monday against what they call “deceptive” ballot language produced by Ohio officials for the state’s closely-watched upcoming referendum on the issue. But it isn’t just the Buckeye State that’s lately seeing fierce battles over the once-obscure topic of ballot language. In recent weeks, officials in Missouri — where another abortion-rights […]

Study cited by Texas judge in abortion-pill case under investigation

BY: - August 2, 2023

Pharmaceutical sciences professor Chris Adkins was perusing news on his computer in December when he came across an item that fascinated him: Anti-abortion groups had sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to force a recall on a commonly used abortion drug. Adkins teaches future pharmacists at South University School of Pharmacy* in Savannah, Georgia. […]

a photo of the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Courthouse

NC abortion restrictions begin Saturday, with one requirement in the new law put on hold

BY: - June 30, 2023

A federal judge decided that North Carolina legislators’ bill resolving discrepancies and inconsistencies in the new law restricting abortion adequately addressed many of the problems abortion providers identified in a lawsuit this month. U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles on Friday issued a 14-day freeze on the requirement for ultrasound evidence documenting the location of […]

a photo of the L. Richardson Preyer Federal Courthouse

Federal judge won’t stop NC’s 12-week abortion ban from starting July 1

BY: - June 28, 2023

U.S.  District Court Judge Catherine Eagles was clear Wednesday that she would not put a freeze on the state’s recently enacted 12-week abortion ban, meaning that most of the restrictions will take effect July 1.  Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a Duke University OB/GYN sued to stop the law from taking effect, at least temporarily. […]

NC Senate votes to change the new abortion law while Republicans reject a dozen amendments from Democrats

BY: - June 27, 2023

The state Senate approved changes to a new law limiting abortions just days ahead of a federal court hearing in a lawsuit brought by abortion providers.  The law banning most abortions after 12 weeks is set to go into effect on July 1. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a Duke University OB-GYN are seeking a […]

a healthcare provider looks at an ultrasound on a screen as the patient looks on

After Dobbs, abortion access is harder, comes later and with a higher risk

BY: - June 21, 2023

Editors’ note: This report is part of a special States Newsroom series on abortion access one year after the U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down the federal right to abortion. In April, a Reddit user in Alabama posted a breathless message to the abortion subreddit the morning after learning she was pregnant. She guessed she […]

Abortion rights protesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court

A year after Dobbs: Congress takes a back seat on federal abortion policy

BY: - June 20, 2023

Editors’ Note: This report is part of a special States Newsroom series on abortion access one year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion. WASHINGTON — One year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the courts rather than a divided Congress are leading the […]

NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls: ‘Good turnout can overcome a bad gerrymander’

BY: - June 15, 2023

Anita Earls was unsure about the federal courts after the 2016 presidential election. A civil rights attorney, she was unclear about whether the federal judiciary would uphold the values she’d spent her career defending. “It seemed to me important to also remember that state courts are a way to protect our rights,” Earls said during […]

COMMENTARY

Monopoly men: GOP legislative leaders continue to extend their power in all directions

BY: - May 23, 2023

Is there any aspect of life in modern North Carolina for which the Republican majority of the General Assembly doesn’t see itself as the font of all wisdom and rightful final arbiter? That’s not a facetious question. GOP pols and their pals on the religious right and in the business and gun lobbies love to […]