During the January 2018 State of the Union address, we heard President Trump declare that his "administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need." But rather than describing how the government will expand access to drug treatment (and no plans have been put forward for an increase in funding this year) he launched into a story about a police officer in New Mexico who saw "a pregnant, homeless woman preparing to inject heroin.
Pregnancy Justice and Allies Support Rinat Dray
On Monday, December 4th four justices of the Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court heard arguments in the Dray case. Rinat Dray is a mother who is suing Staten Island University Hospital and doctors there because, pursuant to a secret (not disclosed to patients) hospital policy, they forced her to have cesarean surgery even though she clearly refused.
Pregnancy Justice Achieving Justice in These Unjust Times
Despite national and international developments that make many of us feel less than hopeful, Pregnancy Justice has had a number of victories that remind us of the need to celebrate the accomplishments we have had.
Victories, Patel Update, TN Wrap-up, and Global Connections
Pregnancy Justice challenge to Wisconsin law will go to federal court
On Sept. 30, a federal district court judge issued a ruling that allows Pregnancy Justice to go forward with a constitutional challenge to Wisconsin's so-called "cocaine mom law.
Pregnancy Justice marks 2 legal victories in states that have incarcerated women based on pregnancy and drug-use claims; Appeal will free Arkansas woman, Wisconsin case moves forward
NEW YORK - On Oct. 8, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Melissa McCann Arms, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for introducing a controlled substance into the body of another person when she gave birth in 2013. The Arms v. State of Arkansas victory comes a week after a federal district court ruling that allowed a constitutional challenge to the 1997 Wisconsin "cocaine mom" law to go forward.
NY: Rinat Dray v. Staten Island University Hospital et al.
NY: Rinat Dray v. Staten Island University Hospital et al.
December 23, 2014
Dray v. Staten Island University Hospital et al., Proposed Brief of Amici Curiae (12/23/2014)
Pregnant, and No Civil Rights
On Saturday, November 7, 2014 The New York Times ran the op-ed, "Pregnant, and No Civil Rights," by Pregnancy Justice's Executive Director Lynn Paltrow and Board President Jeanne Flavin. This commentary describes the shocking realities of the risks that anti-abortion and "personhood" measures pose for all pregnant women in the United States.
We won and we lost. This will be a long, long fight.
This week, voters in Colorado and North Dakota defeated ballot measures that would have established separate rights for fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses.
Will the Truth Prevail? All Pregnant Women Are At Risk
Pregnancy Justice's work on behalf of all pregnant women is getting extraordinary attention. Journalist Nina Martin has just published the first article in a series: "This Alabama Judge Has Figured Out How to Dismantle Roe v. Wade: His writings fuel the biggest threat to abortion rights in a generation.
PRESS RELEASE: Nationwide Coalition Calls on Department of Justice to Denounce Enhanced Sentence for Pregnant Woman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2014
Contact: Lynn Paltrow, Pregnancy Justice, (212) 255-9252
Cherisse Scott, SisterReach, (901) 310-5488
Nationwide Coalition Calls on Department of Justice to Denounce Enhanced Sentence for Pregnant Woman
Today, a coalition of 48 reproductive justice, drug policy reform, women’s rights and civil liberties organizations sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to renounce enhanced criminal penalties for women on the basis of pregnancy.