Tag: Abortion

Givan Bill Would Require Fathers to Pay for Abortions or Have Vasectomies

UPDATED — Alabama Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham is introducing a bill in the upcoming session that would require a father either to pay in the rare case that a woman has an abortion in Alabama or to have a vasectomy.

Addressing more common issues, Givan’s bill would add exceptions to the state’s abortion law in cases of incest and rape and to preserve the health of the mother. Now, the state’s law allows an abortion only to prevent a serious health risk to the mother. Read more.

Roe Overturned: What You Need to Know About the Supreme Court Abortion Decision

After half a century, Americans’ constitutional right to get an abortion has been overturned by the Supreme Court.

The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – handed down on June 24, 2022 – has far-reaching consequences. The Conversation asked Nicole Huberfeld and Linda C. McClain, health law and constitutional law experts at Boston University, to explain what just happened and what happens next. Read more.

Alabama House Passes Controversial Bills During Contentious Day of Debate

MONTGOMERY — A day full of contentious bills in the House of Representatives Thursday was paired with multiple motions to cut off debate, which many Democratic members said were “unjust.”

Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said at one point during the debate that the cloture motions were taking away her right to debate on legislation.

“You’ve taken all my voice away when you give up that cloture,” Moore said.

House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter said the motions were necessary to keep Democrats from dragging out debate in an effort to delay or kill legislation. Read more.

Federal Judge Blocks Alabama Abortion Law

A federal judge blocked Alabama’s strict abortion ban Tuesday, which was set to go into effect next month. U.S District Judge Myron Thompson issued a primary injunction Tuesday against the law, which would have made performing an abortion a felony in almost all cases. Abortion providers would face a sentence of up to 99 years in prison with no exception for rape or incest. The only exception is when there’s a serious health risk to the woman. Read more.

Case Dismissed Against Marshae Jones

A judge has dismissed the case against Marshae Jones, whose fetus was killed during a fight in December.

Circuit Court Judge David Carpenter dismissed the case Saturday morning. He dismissed the manslaughter charge on which Jones had been indicted with prejudice, meaning the charge cannot be refiled.

Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lynneice Washington announced Wednesday that she was dropping the misdemeanor charge. Read more.

“Harsh and Sad at the Same Time” – Residents React to Case of Marshae Jones

New Developments:

Attorney Explains Motion to Dismiss in Case of Alabama Woman Indicted in Death of Her Fetus

UPDATED — The town of Pleasant Grove, about ten miles outside of Birmingham, Alabama is a quiet place with one grocery store, a few restaurants and a gun shop. But recently, it has been in the international spotlight.

Last December, in the parking lot of a local Dollar General, Marshae Jones, now 28, got into a fight with 23-year-old Ebony Jemison. Officials say Jones, who was five months pregnant at the time, started the fight, which led Jemison to shoot Jones in the stomach in self-defense, killing the fetus.

Initially, charges were filed against Jemison, but two months ago the Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff grand jury dropped those charges and indicted Jones instead. They wrote Jones “did intentionally cause the death” of her fetus by “initiating a fight knowing she was five months pregnant.”

The charges against Jones were made public last week when she was arrested and later released from jail on a $50,000 bond. Since then, the case has drawn outrage from women’s rights groups and legal advocates. Read more.

Related stories:

Lawyers File Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Woman Whose Fetus was Killed in Fight

“Harsh and Sad at the Same Time” – Residents React to Case of Marshae Jones.

Prosecutor Drops Charge Against Woman Whose Fetus Was Killed in Fight


Attorney Explains Motion to Dismiss in Case of Alabama Woman Indicted in Death of Her Fetus

Lawyers File Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Woman Whose Fetus was Killed in Fight

Lawyers File Motion to Dismiss Charges Against Woman Whose Fetus was Killed in Fight

Lawyers for a Jefferson County woman who was charged last week with manslaughter in the death of her 5-month-old fetus filed a motion to dismiss on Monday.

White, Arnold & Dowd P.C. say the charges against Marshae Jones are “completely unreasonable and unjust.” In December, Jones and another woman, Ebony Jemison, got into a fight outside a Dollar General in Pleasant Grove. Jemison shot Jones in the stomach, killing the fetus, and was charged with manslaughter, but a grand jury failed to indict her, believing that Jemison shot in self-defense. On April 12, the Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff grand jury indicted Jones, saying she “intentionally caused the death of … unborn baby Jones by initiating a fight knowing she was five months pregnant.” Last week, Jones was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

In an interview with WBHM, Attorney Mark White said the ruling was manipulated and unprecedented.
Miranda Fulmore, WBHM 90.3, July 1, 2019
Read more.