Part Two

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco Saturday signed into a law an abortion measure that will take effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade or if a constitutional amendment is ratified that would give states the authority to prohibit abortions. The Louisiana measure is commonly referred to as a "trigger" law, a law which takes effect if something else takes place first.

Thus the new law should not be subject to any current constitutional challenge and will go into effect when Roe v. Wade is reversed.

Abortions would be allowed to save the life of the mother or to prevent "a substantial risk of death due to a physical condition or to prevent the serious permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ" of the woman, according to (New Orleans) Times-Picayune.

Gov. Blanco signed the law after the Louisiana Senate accepted by a vote of 27-0 changes made to its proposal by the House.

Currently there are at least five votes on the United States Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade. Justices Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, and John Stevens voted in favor of Roe in the case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed by President Bill Clinton, are known to support Roe.

Two justices, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, are known to oppose Roe. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito have not yet voted on Roe's holdings.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Dave Andrusko at dandrusko@nrlc.org.

Part Two