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Michigan Abortion Ban Put on Hold While Challenge Proceeds (03/14/2005)
DETROIT, MI - The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced today that the state has agreed to block enforcement of the Michigan abortion ban until the court considers the legal challenge against the law later this spring.

As House Convenes Hearings, ACLU Says Teen Endangerment Act Puts Vulnerable Lives at Risk, Undercuts Private Family Decisions (03/03/2005)
WASHINGTON - As the House of Representatives held hearings today on a dangerous measure restricting a teenager's ability to obtain an abortion outside of her home state, the American Civil Liberties Union warned that the legislation would put vulnerable young women at risk.

Women's Health Care Providers Challenge MI Law Banning Virtually All Abortions (03/01/2005)
DETROIT, MI-The American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America asked a federal court today to strike down a broad abortion ban that would outlaw virtually all abortions in the state and interfere with a doctor's ability to provide other critical health care services.

ACLU and National Abortion Federation Vow to Defend Federal Abortion Ban Victory As DOJ Pursues Appeal (01/15/2005)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) vowed to defend a district court ruling striking the federal abortion ban in response to briefs filed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals by the Justice Department late yesterday.

ACLU Applauds California for Acting to Protect State Laws Aimed at Safeguarding Women's Health (12/08/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised California Attorney General Bill Lockyer for vowing to take action against a federal provision, signed into law today by President Bush, that would take away the state's ability to enforce its laws protecting women's reproductive health and rights, including laws that ensure that women can obtain lifesaving emergency abortions.

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down New Hampshire Law Restricting Teens' Access to Abortion (11/24/2004)
Boston, MA - The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood applauded a federal appeals court decision today striking down a New Hampshire law restricting teenagers' access to abortion because it failed to protect young women's health.

ACLU Condemns Passage of Measure That Allows Religiously Affiliated Health Care Institutions to Jeopardize Women's Health (11/20/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today condemned the passage of a provision that would allow insurance companies, HMOs, and other health care institutions to refuse to provide abortion services or even give information about those services. The provision was tacked onto an omnibus spending bill and was passed without a vote of either the full Senate or the full House.

ACLU and Planned Parenthood Ask Tennessee Court to Block Anti-Choice License Plate (09/23/2004)
NASHVILLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union argued today in a Tennessee court against an anti-abortion-rights specialty license plate, saying it discriminates against opposing viewpoints.

Federal Abortion Ban Struck Down Today in Nebraska (09/08/2004)
LINCOLN, NE - The National Abortion Federation (NAF) and the American Civil Liberties Union today praised a ruling by a federal court judge in Nebraska striking down the ""Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003."" Today's decision was the third decision to permanently enjoin the sweeping ban, which was challenged in three federal courts late last year.

Florida Supreme Court Replaces Misleading Ballot Proposal to Limit Teens' Privacy Rights With Full Text of Proposed Amendment (09/02/2004)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Responding to a legal challenge brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, two Planned Parenthood affiliates, and a Florida family arguing that a ballot proposal to amend the state constitution to restrict teens' access to abortion was misleading, the Florida Supreme Court today ordered the state to replace the ballot summary with the full text of the proposed amendment. In response, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood vowed to work together to defeat the measure at the polls and to protect the health and lives of teens throughout the state.

Federal Abortion Ban Struck Down Today in New York (08/26/2004)
NEW YORK - A federal district court today struck down the federal abortion ban known as the ""Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003,"" because it fails to provide any exception to protect women's health. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) hailed the decision as a great victory for women and reproductive health care providers.

ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and a Florida Family Appeal Court Ruling Upholding Misleading Ballot Proposal That Limits Teens' Privacy Rights (08/19/2004)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, two Florida Planned Parenthood affiliates, and a Florida family appealed a court ruling today that dismissed their challenge to a ballot proposal to amend the state constitution in order to restrict teens' access to abortion.

ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and a Florida Family Challenge Misleading Ballot Initiative, Saying Family Communication Cannot be Legislated (08/02/2004)
TALAHASSEE, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Planned Parenthoods throughout the state, and a Florida family filed a legal challenge today to a ballot proposal to amend the state constitution to restrict teens' access to abortion, saying the ballot proposal misleads voters and if passed will harm the most vulnerable teens.

ACLU Warns Legislation Would Put Lives of Young Women at Risk, Urges Defeat of Teen Endangerment Act (07/20/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today renewed its objections to a controversial piece of legislation that would put the lives of young women at risk and threatens to turn caring adults into criminals. The bill was the subject of a hearing before a House Judiciary panel.

Planned Parenthood and ACLU Hail Appeals Court Decision Striking Down Idaho's Extreme Parental Consent Law (07/16/2004)
SEATTLE - Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union today hailed an appeals court decision striking down Idaho's parental consent law because it prevented teens with emergency medical conditions from getting the abortions they need to protect their health.

Closing Arguments in Federal Abortion Ban Trial Heard Today in New York (06/22/2004)
NEW YORK - Underscoring critical flaws in a federal abortion ban, the American Civil Liberties Union today presented closing arguments in National Abortion Federation v. Ashcroft, telling a federal court here that women and their doctors need to be able to make medical decisions free from interference of politicians.

ACLU Says Adults Helping Frightened Teens Should Not Become Outlaws; Proposal Puts Lives of Vulnerable Young Women at Risk (06/03/2004)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing on the Teen Endangerment Act, dubbed the "Child Custody Protection Act" by proponents, the American Civil Liberties Union today renewed its objections and urged the defeat of the controversial legislation that would put the lives of vulnerable young women at risk and would turn caring adults into criminals.

Reproductive Rights Groups Hail First Ruling To Permanently Block Federal Abortion Ban (06/01/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The National Abortion Federation, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union praised today's ruling by a federal court judge in San Francisco striking down the ""Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003."" Today's decision in Planned Parenthood Federation of America v. Ashcroft was the first to permanently enjoin the sweeping ban, which was challenged in three federal courts late last year.

"Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003" Faces Challenge; 2003 Law Bans Procedures as Early as 12-15 Weeks (03/29/2004)
New York -- Lawsuits challenging a federal law that bans abortions as early as 12 to 15 weeks in pregnancy begin today in federal courts in New York, San Francisco and Lincoln, Nebraska. The lawsuits are brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Wilmer Cutler Pickering LLP on behalf of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and other doctors; the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Dr. LeRoy Carhart and other doctors; and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) on behalf of its member affiliates. The defendant is Attorney General John Ashcroft.

First-Ever Federal Abortion Ban Prohibits Safe, Medically Appropriate Abortions As Early As 13 Weeks in Pregnancy, ACLU Says as Trial Opens (03/29/2004)
NEW YORK -- On behalf of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and several individual physicians, the American Civil Liberties Union begins a four-week trial today in its legal challenge to the first-ever federal abortion ban. This ban, signed into law in November, poses a significant threat to reproductive rights.