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Attorney General Jeff Landry Leads Massive Support of Banning Dismemberment Abortions

BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading 22 states in an amicus brief supporting Alabama’s recently-challenged law banning dismemberment abortions. 

Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Utah joined Louisiana in filing the brief in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals – arguing that Alabama Act 2016-397 is constitutional and that the federal judge in this court challenge applied the wrong legal standard. 

“It is disturbing that law prohibits animals or death row inmates from being killed by dismemberment, but does not provide the same protection for a defenseless unborn child,” said General Landry. “Abortion by dismemberment kills fetuses by tearing them limb from limb while they are still alive in the womb. Not only is this type of abortion gruesome, but duly-elected state legislatures have also ruled it unlawful because it diminishes respect for human life.”  

The district court’s decision in this case strikes at the heart of the States’ authority to regulate abortion. The Supreme Court has held that States have an interest in protecting and fostering respect for human life, including unborn life. It is unquestionably serious that the repeated performance of abortion by dismemberment compromises respect for life and the medical profession’s ethics. 

Along with Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia – Louisiana enacted a state law banning dismemberment as a form of abortion. Louisiana Act 264 was overwhelmingly passed the Louisiana Legislature in the 2016 Session and was signed into law by the Governor. It is included in the largest abortion challenge ever filed in history; and General Landry’s team is defending the will of the Legislature, Governor, and people of Louisiana by fighting that challenge. Texas has similar legislation currently pending before its legislature.

“The people of Louisiana have my commitment that I will continue to do all that I legally can to defend their pro-life legislation,” said General Landry. “Louisiana is an unapologetically pro-life state; and, as its chief legal officer, I will stand with our fellow pro-life states in defending life and the dignity of the unborn.”