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The 3M logo is seen at its global headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota, U.S. on March 4, 2020. The Combat Arms earplugs were made by Aearo Technologies, a company 3M acquired in 2008. They were used by the U.S. military in training and combat from 2003 to 2015, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. Aearo filed for bankruptcy in July 2022, with 3M pledging $1 billion to fund its liabilities stemming from the earplug lawsuits. 3M argued that the mass tort litigation was unfair because Rodgers had kept scientific evidence favorable to the company out of trials and allowed thousands of "unvetted" claims to swell the court's docket.

Persons: Nicholas Pfosi, M, Casey Rodgers, Aearo, Rodgers, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Aearo Technologies, 3M, District, Thomson Locations: Maplewood , Minnesota, U.S, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pensacola , Florida, New York

REUTERS/Jonathan Drake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 25 (Reuters) - A Texas judge on Friday blocked a Republican-backed state law banning so-called gender-affirming care including puberty blockers, hormones and surgery for transgender minors from taking effect while she hears a legal challenge to it. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the law in June, making Texas one of at least 20 states to ban gender-affirming care. The offices of Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mainstream U.S. medical groups including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics oppose the measure and maintain that gender-affirming care improves transgender patients' mental health and reduces risk of suicide. Several other similar state laws have been blocked by judges, though a federal appeals court this week revived Alabama's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Persons: Jonathan Drake, Judge Maria Cantu Hexsel, Greg Abbott, Brian Klosterboer, Ken Paxton, Brendan Pierson, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, Republican, Texas, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, U.S, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Thomson Locations: Durham , North Carolina, United States, Texas, Travis County, Austin, Abbott, New York

A logo of low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is pictured on an Airbus plane in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Spirit Airlines Inc FollowNEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.N) has agreed to pay up to $8.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit by passengers who said the low-cost carrier blindsided them with surprise carry-on bag fees on tickets bought through third-party travel services. Like other low-cost airlines, Miramar, Florida-based Spirit relies on added fees to help make up for lower base fares. Plaintiffs in the 2017 lawsuit accused the carrier of advertising misleading low prices on travel websites that concealed the "gotcha" bag fees travelers would have to pay at the airport. The plaintiffs originally sought $100 million in punitive damages, though that was dropped from a later version of the lawsuit.

Persons: Regis, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Spirit Airlines, Airbus, REUTERS, Spirit Airlines Inc, Lawyers, Thomson Locations: Colomiers, Toulouse, France, Brooklyn, Expedia, Miramar , Florida, New York

South Carolina Republican state senator Katrina Frye Shealy debates a six-week abortion ban at the state legislature in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. May 23, 2023. REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - South Carolina's highest court on Wednesday upheld a new state law banning abortion after fetal heart activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, months after it blocked a similar ban. "With this victory, we protect the lives of countless unborn children and reaffirm South Carolina's place as one of the most pro-life states in America," South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, said in a statement. The new law came after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous abortion law, by a 3-2 vote. South Carolina's Republican legislature in February replaced Hearn, who was the sole woman on the five-member court, with Justice Garrison Hill, who voted to uphold the new law on Wednesday.

Persons: Katrina Frye, Sam Wolfe, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Justice Kaye Hearn, Hearn, Justice Garrison Hill, John Few, Donald Beatty, Brendan Pierson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: South, South Carolina Republican, REUTERS, South Carolina Supreme, South Carolina Governor, Republican, Democrat, South Carolina's Republican, Justice, Thomson Locations: South Carolina, Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, America, South Carolina's, New York

Aug 21 (Reuters) - Indivior (INDV.L) has agreed to pay $30 million to settle a class action lawsuit filed in a U.S. court by health plans accusing the drugmaker of illegally suppressing generic competition for its opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. The settlement, disclosed on Saturday in a filing by lawyers for the health plans in federal court in Philadelphia, must still be approved by a judge. Indivior is still facing claims by drug wholesalers that bought Suboxone from the Virginia-based company directly, with a trial scheduled in October. Lawyers for the health plans did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Indivior agreed in June to pay $102.5 million to settle related claims by 41 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Persons: Indivior, Mark Crossley, Suboxone, Brendan Pierson, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: U.S, D.C, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Thomson Locations: U.S, Philadelphia, Virginia, Washington, United States, New York

Boxes of Mifepristone, the first pill in a medical abortion, are seen at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. Circuit Court of Appeals means for doctors and patients:CAN PATIENTS STILL GET THE ABORTION PILL? WHAT IS MEDICATION ABORTION? Medication abortion is a two-drug regimen consisting of mifepristone followed by misoprostol used to terminate a pregnancy within the first 10 weeks. If the ruling is upheld, doctors could still prescribe the abortion pill, but with restrictions.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, mifepristone, misoprostol, Wade, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Danco, GenBioPro, Brendan Pierson, Noeleen Walder, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Alamo Women's, REUTERS, New, Circuit, U.S, Supreme, Danco Laboratories, FDA, Hippocratic Medicine, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, District, Thomson Locations: Carbondale , Illinois, U.S, New Orleans, United States, Texas, Amarillo , Texas

Used boxes of Mifepristone, the first pill in a medical abortion, line a trash can at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped short of ruling that the drug must be pulled off the market altogether, as a lower court had done. The three-judge 5th Circuit panel was reviewing an order in April by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas. They contend the FDA used an improper process when it approved mifepristone in 2000 and did not adequately consider the drug's safety when used by minors. The court also reversed the agency's 2016 decision to allow mifepristone to be used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, up from seven.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Kacsmaryk, Erin Hawley, William Ho, mifepristone, telemedicine, Jennifer Walker Elrod, Wade, Brendan Pierson, Nate Raymond, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Alamo Women's, REUTERS, Circuit, U.S, Supreme, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, White, Alliance, Hippocratic Medicine, FDA, Alliance Defending, STATES, Guttmacher Institute, American College of Obstetricians, American Medical Association, Thomson Locations: Alamo, Carbondale , Illinois, U.S, New Orleans, Amarillo , Texas, New York, Boston

Circuit Court of Appeals stopped short of ruling that the drug must be pulled off the market altogether, as a lower court had done. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice said that the Biden administration will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, supports abortion rights and last year ordered the federal health agency to expand access to mifepristone. [1/2]Used boxes of Mifepristone, the first pill in a medical abortion, line a trash can at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S., April 20, 2023. The U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Kacsmaryk, Erin Hawley, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Alexis McGill Johnson, Evan Masingill, Evelyn Hockstein, James Ho, mifepristone, telemedicine, Jennifer Walker Elrod, Wade, Brendan Pierson, Patrick Wingrove, Nate Raymond, Sharon Bernstein, Trevor Hunnicutt, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Circuit, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S, Supreme, Alliance, Hippocratic Medicine, FDA, Alliance Defending, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, U.S . Food, Alamo Women's, REUTERS, Guttmacher Institute, American College of Obstetricians, American Medical Association, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, New Orleans, Amarillo , Texas, Alamo, Carbondale , Illinois, New York, Boston, Sacramento , California, Washington

They said that the state law, signed by Republican Governor Brad Little in March, illegally discriminates on the basis of gender identity and violates students' right to privacy. Idaho's bathroom bill allows students to sue schools for $5,000 if they encounter a transgender student in a bathroom the law forbids. That effectively puts a "bounty" on transgender students and encourages others to search them out, the lawsuit said. The new law says schools must provide a "reasonable accommodation" for transgender students unwilling or unable to use their assigned bathroom. Federal courts have been divided on school policies requiring transgender students to use the restroom corresponding to their birth sex, with the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S.

Persons: Queen Mary, Stephane Mahe, David Nye, Peter Renn of, Raul Labrador, Rebecca Roe, Brad Little, Brendan Pierson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Justice, REUTERS, U.S, District, Peter Renn of Lambda, Republican, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Brittany's, Rennes, France, Idaho, Richmond , Virginia, Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, New York

REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstAug 10 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday will weigh lifting a Louisiana judge's order limiting the Biden administration's ability to communicate with social media companies to urge them to moderate information it deems harmful or misleading. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is set to hear arguments in the administration's appeal of the judge's ruling, which found that the government wrongly pushed social media firms to suppress disfavored political views. The Biden administration quickly appealed, and the 5th Circuit temporarily put the judge's ruling on hold while it heard the case. The administration denies forcing social media companies to take down any posts. The panel that will hear the Biden administration's appeal includes three judges who were all appointed by Republican presidents, U.S.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Terry Doughty's, Doughty, Donald Trump, Trump, lockdowns, Biden, Edith Brown Clement, Jennifer Walker Elrod, Don Willett, Brendan Pierson, Nate Raymond, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Biden, Circuit, District, Democratic, Meta, Inc, YouTube, Twitter, X Corp, Trump, Department of Health, Human Services, Federal Bureau of, 5th Circuit, Republican, Thomson Locations: Arcosa, Belen , New Mexico, U.S, Louisiana, New Orleans, Missouri, Monroe, New York

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File PhotoAug 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. regulation restricting ownership of gun accessories known as pistol braces is likely illegal, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday, a victory for a gun rights group challenging the rule. Circuit Court of Appeals found that U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives finalized the rule in January without giving the public a meaningful chance to comment on it. The court did not immediately block enforcement of the rule, instead sending the case back to U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Fort Worth, Texas. Pistol braces were first marketed in 2012 as a way of attaching a pistol to the shooter's forearm, stabilizing it and making it easier to use for disabled people. The disputed rule classifies some guns equipped with pistol braces as short-barrel rifles, based on several factors including their size and weight and the manufacturers' marketing materials.

Persons: Dimitri Karras, Bing Guan, District Judge Reed O'Connor, O'Connor, Joe Biden's, Cody Wisniewski, Jerry Smith, Don Willett, Stephen Higginson, Smith, Willett, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Higginson, Barack Obama, ‘, Higginson ‘, ’, Brendan Pierson, David Gregorio, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, REUTERS, Circuit, Appeals, . Bureau, Explosives, District, Coalition, ATF, U.S . Department of Justice, Fifth, Congress, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Oceanside , California, U.S, New Orleans, Fort Worth , Texas, New York

District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the District of Idaho agreed with a challenge led by Planned Parenthood that Republican Attorney General Raul Labrador's interpretation of the state's criminal abortion law was "chilling" to providers' First Amendment rights. Idaho's abortion ban calls for revoking the license of any healthcare professional who assists in performing an abortion. Labrador interpreted the word "assists" as prohibiting an Idaho medical provider from referring a woman across state lines for an abortion. But the judge found Labrador's interpretation went too far and enjoined him from prosecuting such cases until an underlying legal challenge to the abortion law is settled in court. "The Court finds that the Medical Providers have established that there is a genuine threat of prosecution.

Persons: Lynn Winmill, Raul Labrador's, Bill Clinton, Daniel Trotta, Brendan Pierson, Lincoln Organizations: of, Planned, Republican, Providers, Medical Providers, Democratic, Medical, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: U.S, Idaho, of Idaho, Labrador

July 31 (Reuters) - Healthcare providers and an abortion rights group on Monday sued Alabama in an effort to block the state from criminally prosecuting people who help others travel out of state to get abortions. In a lawsuit filed in Montgomery, Alabama federal court, the West Alabama Women's Center, the Alabama Women's Center and its medical director Yashica Robinson said any such prosecutions would violate a basic right to travel between states under the U.S. Constitution. Alabama in 2019 passed the Human Life Protection Act, a law banning nearly all abortions. The healthcare providers said the threat of prosecution prevents them from advising patients about where they could travel to get abortions, and the Yellowhammer Fund said it had been forced to shut down its abortion funding in Alabama. "That includes abortion providers conspiring to violate the Act."

Persons: Yashica Robinson, Wade, Steve Marshall, Alabamans, Robin Marty, Marshall, Amanda Priest, Brendan Pierson, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Healthcare, Monday, Alabama, West Alabama Women's Center, Alabama Women's Center, U.S, U.S . Constitution, Yellowhammer, Supreme, Yellowhammer Fund, West Alabama Women's, Thomson Locations: Montgomery , Alabama, U.S ., Alabama, Roe, New York

July 31 (Reuters) - A group of Democratic state attorneys general has urged a federal appeals court to lift an order sharply curbing the ability of government officials to push social media companies to moderate content they deem harmful. Circuit Court of Appeals that the order hampers efforts by government officials to stop the spread of false information. They alleged that U.S. government officials, under both Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, effectively coerced social media companies to censor posts over concerns they would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections. The office of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; editing by Deepa Babington and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Letitia James, Terry Doughty, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Andrew Bailey, Jeff Landry, Edith Brown Clement, Jennifer Walker Elrod, Don Willett, Brendan Pierson, Deepa Babington, Leslie Adler Organizations: Democratic, District of Columbia, New York, New, Circuit, Appeals, District, Republican, U.S, Facebook, YouTube, Department of Health, Human Services, Federal Bureau of, Missouri, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, U.S, Louisiana, Missouri, New York

July 26 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has asked a federal appeals court to lift an order sharply curbing government officials' communications with social media companies as a lawsuit accusing U.S. officials of seeking to censor certain views about COVID-19 and other topics online makes its way through the courts. Circuit Court of Appeals, the administration argued that a lower court judge's July 4 decision was overly broad and would hurt the government's ability to fight misinformation on platforms in a crisis. "The government cannot punish people for expressing different views," lawyers for U.S. President Joe Biden's administration wrote. The government must be allowed to seek to persuade people of its views, even where those views are the subject of controversy." His preliminary order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Terry Doughty, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Brendan Pierson, Susan Heavey Organizations: U.S, New, Circuit, Appeals, District, Facebook, YouTube, Democratic, Republican, Department of Health, Human Services, Federal Bureau of, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, U.S, Monroe , Louisiana, Louisiana, Missouri, New York

The jury ruled in favor of Emory Hernandez Valadez, who filed suit last year in California state court in Oakland against J&J, seeking monetary damages. The six-week trial was the first over talc that New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J has faced in almost two years. Hernandez will not be able to collect the judgment in the foreseeable future, thanks to a bankruptcy court order freezing most litigation over J&J's talc. Jurors heard from Hernandez's mother, Anna Camacho, who said she used large amounts of J&J's baby powder on her son when he was a baby and through childhood. Tens of thousands of plaintiffs have sued, alleging that J&J's baby powder and other talc products sometimes contained asbestos and caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

Persons: Johnson, Emory Hernandez Valadez, Hernandez, Erik Haas, Anna Camacho, Michael Kaplan, LTL, J, Brendan Pierson, Will Dunham, Sandra Maler Organizations: Johnson, J, Reuters, View, LTL Management, LTL's, Thomson Locations: California, Oakland, Brunswick , New Jersey, Trenton , New Jersey, New York

July 14 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked a lower court order that had sharply limited certain Biden administration officials' and agencies' contacts with social media companies. The 5th Circuit on Friday ruled that the administration's appeal of Doughty's order will be heard as soon as possible by a three-judge panel. Doughty's order itself was a temporary injunction, meant to remain in place while the judge considers the case more fully. The social media companies mentioned in the lawsuit include Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Twitter and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube. Legal experts have said Doughty's order will likely face tough scrutiny on appeal, thanks to its breadth and the lack of clear precedents supporting it.

Persons: Terry Doughty, Doughty, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Brendan Pierson, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Biden, New, Circuit, U.S, District, Democratic, Republican, Facebook, Inc, Twitter, YouTube, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Monroe , Louisiana, Louisiana, Missouri, New York

Last month, U.S. District Judge David Hale found that the ban likely violated the U.S. Constitution. However, he said he had to put his order on hold because the federal appeals court hearing the case recently paused a similar order in Tennessee. The law is being challenged by families of transgender children who say they will be irreparably harmed by losing access to medical treatments. The now-reinstated Kentucky and Tennessee laws were both blocked by federal judges on June 28 in response to lawsuits by families of transgender children. The families say the laws discriminate against transgender people and take away parents' right to make medical decisions for their children.

Persons: David Hale, Daniel Cameron, Corey Shapiro, Hale, Brendan Pierson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: District, . Constitution, Republican, Civil Liberties Union, Kentucky, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, U.S, ., Tennessee . Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas , Alabama, Florida, Indiana, New York

☆ Jurors urged to impose heavy punitive damages in J&J talc trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Brendan Pierson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

J&J has consistently denied that its now-discontinued talc baby powder contains asbestos or causes cancer. Satterley asked jurors to award Hernandez punitive damages about nine times greater than so-called compensatory damages, which include $3.8 million for his medical costs as well as damages for pain and suffering. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages, and that a higher ratio can be reduced on appeal as excessive. J&J has said its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos, which has been linked to mesothelioma. J&J said in bankruptcy court filings that the costs of its talc-related verdicts, settlements and legal fees have reached about $4.5 billion.

Persons: Johnson, Mike Segar, ” Joseph Satterley, Emory Hernandez Valadez, Satterley, Hernandez, Allison Brown, “, Michael Kaplan, LTL, J Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Alameda County Superior Court, U.S, Supreme, LTL Management, LTL’s Locations: California, Johnson, New York, Alameda County, Trenton , New Jersey

☆ Biden admin seeks emergency order halting ban on social media company contacts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 6 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday asked a federal appeals court for an emergency order halting a lower court ruling that bars some government agencies and officials from meeting and communicating with social media companies about moderating their content. Circuit Court of Appeals, the administration said the lower court ruling was "both sweeping in scope and vague in its terms," and likely to be overturned on appeal. The lower court order, issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Louisiana, came in a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri and by several individuals. They alleged that U.S. government officials effectively coerced social media companies to censor posts over concerns they would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections. The social media companies mentioned in the lawsuit include Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), Twitter and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube.

Persons: Biden, Terry Doughty, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Daniel Wallis, Himani Organizations: New, Circuit, Appeals, U.S, District, Facebook, Inc, Twitter, YouTube, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, Constitution, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, Missouri, U.S, New York

The Idaho law allows students to sue schools for $5,000 if they encounter a transgender student in a bathroom the law forbids. It effectively puts a "bounty" on transgender students and encourages others to search them out, the lawsuit says. The motion alleges transgender students would be irreparably harmed by being subjected to "profound stigma" and put at higher risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm. "In fact, for years Idaho schools have implemented inclusive policies without harming anyone and only helping to make transgender youth feel safer and more welcome at school." The new law says schools must provide a "reasonable accommodation" for transgender students unwilling or unable to use their assigned bathroom.

Persons: Brad Little, Raul Labrador, Kell Olson, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Howard Goller Organizations: Republican, Idaho, of Education, Lambda, Thomson Locations: Idaho, U.S, Boise, New York

July 6 (Reuters) - A federal judge's order restricting Biden administration officials from contacting social media companies about moderating their content will face tough legal challenges on appeal, experts said. The Biden administration on Wednesday filed a notice with the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. THREAT OF HARMThe Biden administration has argued that there was no threat of harm because the lawsuit challenged communications that ended more than a year ago. It also said that while it urged social media companies to stop the spread of dangerous misinformation, the companies themselves - including Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc (META.O), YouTube owner Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Twitter Inc - ultimately made their own decisions. Burt Neuborne, a professor at New York University School of Law, was more skeptical of the free speech claims.

Persons: Terry Doughty, Biden, Jonathan Turley, Doughty's, Doughty, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer, Mark MacCarthy, Burt Neuborne, I'm, You'd, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Brendan Pierson, Andrew Goudsward, Kanishka Singh, Alexia Garamfalvi, Leslie Adler Organizations: Biden, U.S, District, New, Circuit, Appeals, George Washington University Law School, Department of Health, Human Services, Facebook, Inc, Twitter Inc, Meta, Columbia University, Brookings Institution, New York University School of Law, Republican, Democrat, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, New Orleans, Missouri, U.S, New York, Washington

REUTERS/Hannah BeierJuly 3 (Reuters) - In state after state, conservative lawmakers this year have banned medical procedures for transgender youth. Now, a growing number of federal judges are blocking those laws from taking effect. The court rulings offer temporary relief from the recent rush of bills banning transgender youth from receiving treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Democrats, LGBTQ advocacy groups and health providers say the bans unjustly target a vulnerable community for whom gender-affirming care can be life-saving. The judges also have said laws banning such care violate a parent's right to make healthcare decisions for their children.

Persons: Hannah Beier, Tobias Wolff, Kevin Jennings, Donald Trump, Cynthia Cheng, Wun Weaver, Matt Sharp, Sharp, Jay Richards, " Richards, Barack Obama, Daniel Trotta, Brendan Pierson, Colleen Jenkins, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, University of Pennsylvania, Lambda, Republican, Human Rights, Alliance Defending, Foundation's, for Religion, Civil Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Democratic, American Civil Liberties Union, Thomson Locations: Doylestown , Pennsylvania, U.S, Alabama , Arkansas, Florida , Indiana , Kentucky, Tennessee, Montana, Georgia, Oklahoma, United States, Arkansas

The court, in a 4-1 decision, found that the Indiana constitution does not include a broad right to abortion, allowing Indiana to join 14 other Republican-led states in enforcing abortion bans. Indiana's General Assembly last August passed the first new law state law banning abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that had established a right to abortion nationwide. The law prohibits all abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, lethal fetal abnormalities and to save the mother's life or prevent serious health risk. Planned Parenthood argued in its lawsuit that the law violated the right liberty guaranteed by the state constitution. But Justice Derek Molter, writing for the majority on Friday, said the framers of the state constitution "left the General Assembly with legislative discretion to regulate or limit abortion."

Persons: General Todd Rokita, we'll, Roe, Wade, Derek Molter, Molter, Christopher Goff, Brendan Pierson, Grant McCool Organizations: Indiana Supreme, Planned, Republican, Hoosiers, U.S, Supreme, General, Thomson Locations: Indiana, New York

[1/2] Protesters gather inside the South Carolina House as members debate a new near-total ban on abortion with no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest at the state legislature in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. August 30, 2022. REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/FILE PHOTOJune 27 (Reuters) - South Carolina's highest court on Tuesday appeared open to upholding a new state law banning abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, months after it blocked a similar ban. That court ruled 3-2 in January that an earlier abortion law violated the right to privacy guaranteed by the state constitution. Both the earlier law and the newer law sought to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Abortions are currently allowed in South Carolina through the first 22 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most permissive abortion laws in the region.

Persons: Sam Wolfe, Justice Kaye Hearn, Hearn, Justice Garrison Hill, Catherine Humphreville, William Lambert, John Few, John Kittredge, Catherine, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: Carolina House, REUTERS, Planned, South Carolina Supreme, South, South Carolina's Republican, Justice, Democrat, Thomson Locations: Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, South Carolina's, South Carolina, New York

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