{"id":284100,"date":"2023-01-23T18:44:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T00:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=284100"},"modified":"2023-01-23T17:24:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T23:24:02","slug":"new-mexico-supreme-court-pro-life-ordinances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/new-mexico-supreme-court-pro-life-ordinances\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico AG asks state Supreme Court to squash pro-life sanctuary city ordinances"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The New Mexico Supreme Court has been asked to\u00a0intervene in the implementation of Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn ordinances passed by Roosevelt County, Lea County, and the cities of Hobbs and Clovis\u00a0because they “infringe on the reproductive and equality rights of women in violation of the New Mexico Constitution,” according to an emergency petition filed by\u00a0New Mexico Attorney General Rau\u0301l Torrez.<\/p>\n

“In the wake of the United States Supreme Court\u2019s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, several cities and counties in southeastern New Mexico passed ordinances that sought to restrict abortion access,”\u00a0Torrez, who was endorsed<\/a> by Planned Parenthood, claimed in his press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Relying on a flawed interpretation of a 19th century federal statute regulating the interstate shipment of abortion medication, these communities sought to impose a new regulatory scheme that would have effectively prohibited abortion access for women and, in one instance, created a private right of action that would allow private citizens to file lawsuits to enforce the ordinances,” Torrez also claimed in the release.<\/p>\n

\"Walgreens<\/a><\/p>\n

The long-held federal law to which Torrez refers is commonly known as the Comstock Act, and it essentially bans the shipping of abortion-inducing drugs by mail.\u00a0The State Attorney General’s petition follows a Department of Justice (DOJ)\u00a0slip opinion<\/a> on the decades old federal law which claimed that\u00a0\u201c[s]ince early in the twentieth century, federal courts have agreed that section 1461 and related Comstock Act provisions do not categorically prohibit the mailing or other conveyance of items designed, adapted, or intended for preventing or terminating pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, pro-life attorneys disagree<\/a>, calling the DOJ’s opinion (not a court decision) an “outrageous attack on the rule of law,” accusing the government agency of playing politics.<\/p>\n

“Today Attorney General Torrez took formal action to nullify those ordinances as exceeding the lawful authority of local governments to regulate healthcare access and as a violation of the New Mexico Constitution\u2019s guarantees of equal protection and due process of a woman\u2019s inalienable right to bodily autonomy,” the AG’s office wrote.<\/p>\n

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This is not Texas. The NM Constitution does not allow cities, counties or private citizens to restrict women\u2019s reproductive rights. Let this send a strong message that I will use every available tool to uphold individual liberties against unconstitutional overreach #nmpol<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/8SSUkL2YOE<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ra\u00fal Torrez (@TorrezforNM) January 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n