Home » today » News » Court handling medication abortion case inundated with death threats, says Judge

Court handling medication abortion case inundated with death threats, says Judge

The case involving medication abortion has taken a dangerous turn as the court handling it has reportedly received a “barrage” of death threats. The judge presiding over the case has stated that the threats are rooted in misinformation and misunderstanding about the case, which centers on restrictions on medication abortion in a number of states. The situation highlights the intense emotions and polarization around the topic of reproductive rights, and raises concerns about the safety of those involved in the legal process.


[gpt3Summarize this content to 300 words

(CNN) A federal judge told lawyers involved in a major medication abortion case last week that he did not want to publicize plans to hold a hearing in the case because of a “barrage” of death threats and other harassment that has been directed towards his courthouse, according to a transcript obtained by CNN of a private status conference.

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, on a teleconference with the attorneys on Friday, said: “This is not a gag order but just a request for courtesy given the death threats and harassing phone calls and voicemails that this division has received.”

The judge did not say where the threats came from.

“We want a fluid hearing with all parties being heard,” the judge added. “I think less advertisement of this hearing is better.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, Kacsmaryk will be considering a request for a preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs, anti-abortion doctors and medical associations that are asking him to block the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a drug used in medication abortion.

During the Friday teleconference, he said that he would put a public order scheduling the hearing on the public docket on Tuesday, the day before the Wednesday morning hearing in Amarillo, Texas.

“To minimize some of the unnecessary death threats and voicemails and harassment that this division has received from the start of the case, we’re going to post that later in the day,” Kacsmaryk said, according to the transcript. “So it may even be after business hours, but that will be publicly filed.”

“Other elements of this case have brought a barrage of death threats and protesters and the rest. I don’t want that to disrupt your presentation to the court,” the judge told the attorneys on the call.

Kacsmaryk’s effort to delay the hearing plans from becoming public was first reported by The Washington Post on Saturday, and prompted a public outcry from media outlets and legal experts who said that the effort undermined the principles of judicial transparency. He ultimately posted the scheduling order for the hearing to the court’s docket on Monday afternoon, as well as a docket entry for the Friday call.

During the call, Kacsmaryk assured the attorneys that the normal courthouse security protocols will be in place for Wednesday’s hearing, but he asked that the attorneys “not further advertise or Tweet any of the details of this hearing so that all parties can be heard and we don’t have any unnecessary circus-like atmosphere of what should be more of an appellate-style proceeding.”

The case concerns a challenge brought by anti-abortion doctors and medical associations to the federal government’s 2000 approval of a drug used to terminate pregnancies. Medication abortion is the most common method of abortion in the United States.

If the judge grants the request to block access to the drug nationwide, it could make the pills harder to obtain even in states where medication abortion is legal.

[/gpt3]


In conclusion, the recent death threats directed towards the court handling medication abortion case is a clear indicator of the destructive nature of hate speech in our society. It’s evident that the administration of justice should not be inhibited by intimidation, and the right to express and seek justice should be respected without any form of intimidation. We should all strive to create a safe environment that embraces respect for the rule of law and the freedom of expression without fear of threats. It’s essential for us to acknowledge that we are all human beings with different values, and our disagreements should never degenerate to threats of harm or violence. Only in doing this will we promote a society where peaceful coexistence thrives.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.