ACLJ: Supreme Court Takes ''Significant'' Step in Taking 2nd Case Involving Constitutionality of Ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.

WASHINGTON -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which specializes in constitutional law, said it is pleased the Supreme Court has decided to hear a second case involving the constitutionality of the national ban on partial-birth abortion. The ACLJ, which is representing members of Congress in the Nebraska case already before the high court, said today's decision to hear a case out of California is significant.

"The Supreme Court took a significant step today that clearly puts the issue of partial-birth abortion front-and-center," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which litigates pro-life issues. "By taking a second case involving the constitutionality of the national ban on partial-birth abortion, the Supreme Court puts the spotlight on one of the most horrific medical procedures in existence today. The high court not only will determine whether Congress acted appropriately in enacting the ban, but the high court also has a critical opportunity to bring to an end - once and for all - the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion. Taking a second case clearly elevates one of the most culturally significant issues of our time. The stakes are high and we are very pleased that the Supreme Court now has two opportunities to abolish what can only be described as infanticide."

In the Nebraska case, the ACLJ filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court representing 78 members of Congress and more than 320,000 Americans asking the high court to uphold the constitutionality of the national ban on partial-birth abortion.

Sekulow says the ACLJ will also file an amicus brief - representing members of Congress - in the California case.

In its brief filed in the Nebraska case, the ACLJ asserts: "Partial birth procedures represent the beachhead of this assault on postnatal life, the bridge between abortion and infanticide. Absent strong legal barriers and vigorous societal condemnation, partial birth procedures open the way to legal infanticide."

The brief is posted at: http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/Gonzales_v_Carhart_ACLJ_Amicus_Brief_ merits_stage.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

The ACLJ has been active in supporting the federal government's defense of the national ban on partial-birth abortion in all three legal challenges involving cases in Nebraska, California, and New York.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law and focuses on pro-life litigation. The ACLJ is based in Washington, D.C. and is online at www.aclj.org.