Montana judge halts law mandating abortion clinic licensing temporarily.
A Victory for Abortion Clinics in Montana
A Montana judge has granted a temporary restraining order to block a law requiring abortion clinics to be licensed in order to practice.
The law, House Bill 937 (pdf), introduced by Republican state Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway (R-Great Falls), was signed in May by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. It was set to take effect on Oct. 1.
Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott wrote in his order filed Sept. 27 that Montana has yet to develop a process to license the clinics.
The block is temporary, the judge points out.
“The Court is not considering today a preliminary injunction that will endure throughout the litigation, but a temporary restraining order aimed at protecting the parties’ positions until a hearing can be held,” he wrote.
He said the temporary restraining order would ”give [abortion] Providers sufficient assurance that they can continue operations while the [Montana Health] Department effectuates the legislature’s command that they develop a licensure process.”
The temporary restraining order only applies to Section 2(1) of the bill, which states: “A person may not operate or advertise the operation of an abortion clinic unless the person is licensed by the department.”
In Montana, abortion clinics are not presently licensed, but their providers are. The judge noted in his order that there’s no process for these clinics to secure a license before Oct. 1.
“Before licenses can be issued, the [Montana Health] Department must first promulgate rules,” Judge Abbott wrote, adding: “The department, however, has neither adopted nor even publicly proposed temporary or final rules to implement H.B. 937, nor has it otherwise given providers guidance on how they can avoid violations of Section 2(1) in the interim.
“While there may or may not prove to be a compelling state interest in licensing abortion clinics, a question for another day, there is no compelling interest in imposing a mandatory licensure regime while issuing no licenses. Nor can the court avoid the constitutional problems with Section 2(1) as written by engrafting onto it an implied impossibility defense, because that would require the court to ‘insert what has been omitted,'” he added.
Montana abortion providers had sued the state (pdf) at the start of the month over the legislation. They argued that the law is unconstitutional in part because there’d been no guidelines from the state health department on how to obtain a license, thereby making compliance by Oct. 1 “impossible.”
“HB 937 is also vague as to whether Plaintiffs must become licensed as “abortion clinics” or whether they may continue to provide that care under the laws to which they and similar clinics are currently subject,” the filing read.
The abortion providers also noted that abortions are already regulated in the state. “Plaintiffs have been, and will continue to be, subject to generally applicable State, federal, and professional oversight and regulation,” they wrote. “As mainstream medical authorities have repeatedly concluded, there is no valid reason to target abortion care for additional regulation.”
The ACLU of Montana, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and law firm Dechert, LLP, filed the lawsuit on behalf of All Families Healthcare, Blue Mountain Clinic, and Helen Weems, APRN-FNP.
The lawsuit names the defendants as the state of Montana, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), and Charlie Brereton, its director.
What is the main concern raised by opponents of the licensing requirement for abortion clinics in Montana?
E absence of licenses.”
Controversial Law
The law requiring abortion clinics to be licensed has been met with significant controversy since its introduction in Montana. Proponents argue that licensing ensures proper oversight and regulation of clinics, ultimately safeguarding the health and well-being of patients. Meanwhile, opponents claim that such requirements are unnecessary and place undue burden on providers, potentially limiting access to abortion services.
Planned Parenthood of Montana, along with several other abortion providers, filed a lawsuit challenging the law, arguing that it creates unreasonable obstacles and violates patients’ constitutional right to access abortion. They sought a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of the licensing requirement until the case could be fully heard.
Judge’s Decision
In his order granting the temporary restraining order, Judge Christopher Abbott acknowledged that Montana has yet to establish a process for licensing abortion clinics. He emphasized that the order is not a final ruling on the matter, but rather a measure to protect the interests of both parties involved while a hearing can be conducted.
The judge stated that the temporary restraining order will allow abortion providers to continue their operations without fear of
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