Did you know that a state law protecting access to abortion services is being challenged in Massachusetts?

In November 2007, Massachusetts enacted a law that provides a thirty-five foot "buffer zone" around reproductive health care facilities.  This is the largest buffer zone ever passed by state legislation, and helps ensure that women seeking reproductive health care services will not be intimidated or harassed by anti-choice protestors.  In signing the law, Gov. Deval Patrick stated that the new law "strikes an appropriate balance between the freedom of choice and the freedom of expression."

Anti-choice advocates immediately threatened to challenge the law, and did so in January 2008.  Claiming that the thirty-five foot buffer zone violates their free speech rights, five anti-choice protestors filed suit in a federal district court in Boston.

The named defendant in the suit, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, is fighting back to protect the law.  She stated that the "buffer zone statute is an important change to the law and enhances public safety and access to medical facilities."  The judge assigned to the case has yet to issue any decisions.

S.B 1353, 185th Gen. Court, Reg. Sess. (Mass. 2007) (codifed at Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 120E.5); Lisa Wangsness, New Law Expands Abortion Buffer Zone, Boston Globe, Nov. 14, 2007; Jason Szep, Massachusetts Moves to Protect Abortion Clinics, Reuters, Nov. 13, 2007; Complaint, McCullen v. Coakley, No. 1:08-cv-10066-JLT (D. Mass. filed Jan. 16, 2008); Martin Finucane, Clinic Buffer Zones Face Legal Challenge, Boston Globe, Jan. 19, 2008; Defendant’s Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction, McCullen v. Coakley, No. 1:08-cv-10066-JLT (D. Mass. filed Feb. 20, 2008); Press Release, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Attorney General Martha Coakley Opposes Challenge to Buffer Zone Law (Feb. 20, 2008); Megan Woolhouse, AG Backs Abortion Buffer Zone, Boston Globe, Feb. 21, 2008.