Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedJuly 25, 2018
Docket17-1883
StatusPublished

This text of Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana (Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana, (7th Cir. 2018).

Opinion

 

In the

United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit ____________________ȱ No.ȱ17Ȭ1883ȱ PLANNEDȱPARENTHOODȱOFȱINDIANAȱȱ ANDȱKENTUCKY,ȱINC.,ȱ PlaintiffȬAppellee,ȱ

v.ȱ

COMMISSIONERȱOFȱTHEȱINDIANAȱSTATEȱȱ DEPARTMENTȱOFȱHEALTH,ȱetȱal.,ȱ DefendantsȬAppellants.ȱ ____________________ȱ

AppealȱfromȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱDistrictȱCourtȱforȱtheȱ SouthernȱDistrictȱofȱIndiana,ȱIndianapolisȱDivision.ȱ No.ȱ1:16ȬcvȬ01807ȱ—ȱTanyaȱWaltonȱPratt,ȱJudge.ȱ ____________________ȱ

ARGUEDȱNOVEMBERȱ6,ȱ2017ȱ—ȱDECIDEDȱJULYȱ25,ȱ2018ȱ ____________________ȱ

BeforeȱBAUER,ȱKANNE,ȱandȱROVNER,ȱCircuitȱJudges.ȱ ROVNER,ȱCircuitȱJudge.ȱSinceȱ1995,ȱtheȱStateȱofȱIndianaȱhasȱ requiredȱthat,ȱatȱleastȱeighteenȱhoursȱbeforeȱaȱwomanȱhasȱanȱ abortion,ȱ sheȱ mustȱ beȱ givenȱ informationȱ providedȱ byȱ theȱ Stateȱ about,ȱ amongȱ otherȱ things,ȱ theȱ procedure,ȱ factsȱ aboutȱ theȱ fetusȱ andȱ itsȱ development,ȱ andȱ alternativesȱ toȱ abortion.ȱ ThatȱinformationȱisȱmeantȱtoȱadvanceȱtheȱState’sȱassertedȱinȬ 2ȱ No.ȱ17Ȭ1883ȱ

terestȱinȱpromotingȱfetalȱlife.ȱInȱotherȱwords,ȱtheȱStateȱhopesȱ thatȱ womenȱ whoȱ readȱ thatȱ informationȱ andȱ considerȱ itȱ willȱ optȱnotȱtoȱhaveȱanȱabortion,ȱandȱwill,ȱinstead,ȱchooseȱtoȱcarȬ ryȱ theȱ pregnancyȱ toȱ term.ȱ Afterȱ sheȱ hasȱ receivedȱ theȱ manȬ datedȱ information,ȱ aȱ womanȱ mustȱ waitȱ atȱ leastȱ eighteenȱ hoursȱ beforeȱ havingȱ anȱ abortion,ȱ thus,ȱ theȱ Stateȱ hopes,ȱ sheȱ willȱ useȱ theȱ timeȱ toȱ reflectȱ uponȱ herȱ choiceȱ andȱ chooseȱ toȱ continueȱherȱpregnancy.ȱTheȱStateȱalsoȱrequiresȱthatȱaȱwomȬ anȱ haveȱ anȱ ultrasoundȱ andȱ hearȱ theȱ fetalȱ heartbeatȱ priorȱ toȱ anȱabortionȱalthoughȱsheȱmayȱdeclineȱtheȱopportunityȱtoȱdoȱ oneȱorȱboth,ȱasȱ75%ȱofȱwomenȱgenerallyȱdo.1ȱȱ Priorȱ toȱ Julyȱ 1,ȱ 2016,ȱ womenȱ could,ȱ andȱ generallyȱ did,ȱ haveȱtheȱultrasoundȱonȱtheȱsameȱdayȱofȱtheȱprocedure.ȱThisȱ was,ȱ inȱ largeȱ part,ȱ becauseȱ almostȱ allȱ abortionsȱ inȱ Indianaȱ occurȱ atȱ oneȱ ofȱ fourȱ Plannedȱ Parenthoodȱ ofȱ Indianaȱ andȱ Kentuckyȱ(PPINK)ȱhealthȱcenters,ȱandȱonlyȱthoseȱfewȱPPINKȱ facilitiesȱ thatȱ offerȱ abortionȱ servicesȱ (mostȱ doȱ not)ȱ hadȱ theȱ ultrasoundȱ equipmentȱ onȱ site.ȱ Theȱ Indianaȱ Houseȱ Enrolledȱ Actȱ 1337ȱ (HEAȱ 1337),ȱ however,ȱ amendedȱ Indianaȱ lawȱ andȱ nowȱrequiresȱwomenȱtoȱundergoȱanȱultrasoundȱprocedureȱatȱ leastȱ eighteenȱ hoursȱ priorȱ toȱ theȱ abortion.ȱ Becauseȱ ofȱ theȱ structureȱandȱlocationȱofȱabortionȱservicesȱinȱIndianaȱandȱtheȱ populationȱ ofȱ womenȱ seekingȱ abortions,ȱ thisȱ change— movingȱ theȱ ultrasoundȱ fromȱ theȱ dayȱ ofȱ theȱ abortionȱ proceȬ dureȱtoȱatȱleastȱeighteenȱhoursȱbefore—asȱweȱwillȱexplore,ȱisȱ significant.ȱȱ

ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ 1ȱPriorȱtoȱ2011,ȱtheȱlawȱrequiredȱthatȱpriorȱtoȱanȱabortionȱtheȱwomanȱbeȱ

shownȱanȱultrasoundȱ“uponȱtheȱwoman’sȱrequest.”ȱP.L.ȱ193Ȭ2011,ȱSec.ȱ9.ȱ Inȱ2011ȱtheȱlegislatureȱamendedȱtheȱstatuteȱtoȱrequireȱthatȱtheȱwomanȱbeȱ shownȱ theȱ ultrasoundȱ unlessȱ sheȱ certifiedȱ inȱ writingȱ thatȱ sheȱ didȱ notȱ wantȱto.ȱȱ No.ȱ17Ȭ1883ȱ 3

PPINKȱfiledȱsuitȱagainstȱtheȱCommissionerȱofȱtheȱIndianaȱ Stateȱ Departmentȱ ofȱ Healthȱ andȱ theȱ prosecutorsȱ ofȱ Marionȱ County,ȱ Lakeȱ County,ȱ Monroeȱ County,ȱ andȱ Tippecanoeȱ Countyȱ (collectively,ȱ“theȱState”),ȱallȱ inȱ theirȱ officialȱ capaciȬ ties.2ȱPPINKȱclaimedȱthatȱHEAȱ1337ȱunconstitutionallyȱburȬ densȱ aȱ woman’sȱ rightȱ toȱ chooseȱ toȱ haveȱ anȱ abortion,ȱ andȱ itȱ soughtȱpreliminaryȱreliefȱenjoiningȱtheȱprovisionȱduringȱtheȱ pendencyȱofȱtheȱlitigation.ȱTheȱdistrictȱcourtȱgrantedȱtheȱpreȬ liminaryȱ injunction.ȱ Weȱ agreeȱ withȱ theȱ wellȬreasonedȱ conȬ clusionsȱofȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱopinion,ȱfromȱwhichȱweȱborrowȱ heavily.ȱ I.ȱ A.ȱ Backgroundȱinformationȱ 1.ȱ Theȱnewȱlawȱ Indianaȱ Codeȱ §ȱ 16Ȭ34Ȭ2Ȭ1.1ȱ mandatesȱ thatȱ atȱ leastȱ eightȬ eenȱ hoursȱpriorȱ toȱ theȱabortionȱ procedure,ȱtheȱ patientȱmustȱ beȱprovidedȱwithȱtheȱ followingȱinformationȱ(amongȱothers)ȱ bothȱorallyȱandȱinȱwriting:ȱ“thatȱhumanȱphysicalȱlifeȱbeginsȱ whenȱ aȱ humanȱ ovumȱ isȱ fertilizedȱ byȱ aȱ humanȱ sperm;”ȱ theȱ probableȱgestationalȱageȱofȱtheȱfetusȱatȱtheȱtimeȱtheȱabortionȱ isȱtoȱbeȱperformed,ȱincludingȱaȱpictureȱofȱtheȱfetusȱatȱcertainȱ gestationalȱages,ȱandȱotherȱinformationȱaboutȱtheȱfetusȱatȱitsȱ ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ 2ȱCourtsȱhaveȱlongȱdeclaredȱthatȱabortionȱprovidersȱhaveȱstandingȱtoȱsueȱ

toȱ enjoinȱ lawsȱ thatȱ restrictȱ abortion.ȱ Plannedȱ Parenthoodȱ ofȱ Wisc.,ȱ Inc.ȱ v.ȱ Schimel,ȱ806ȱF.3dȱ908,ȱ910ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2015).ȱ“Theseȱcasesȱemphasizeȱnotȱtheȱ harmȱ toȱ theȱ abortionȱ clinicȱ ofȱ makingȱ abortionsȱ veryȱ difficultȱ toȱ obtainȱ legally,ȱ thoughȱ thatȱ mightȱ beȱ anȱ alternativeȱ groundȱ forȱ recognizingȱ aȱ clinic’sȱ standing,ȱ butȱ ratherȱ theȱ confidentialȱ natureȱ ofȱ theȱ physicianȬ patientȱrelationshipȱandȱtheȱdifficultyȱforȱpatientsȱofȱdirectlyȱvindicatingȱ theirȱ rightsȱ withoutȱ compromisingȱ theirȱ privacy.”ȱ Id.ȱ (internalȱ citationsȱ omitted).ȱȱ 4ȱ No.ȱ17Ȭ1883ȱ

currentȱ stageȱ ofȱ development;ȱ noticeȱ thatȱ theȱ fetusȱ canȱ feelȱ painȱatȱorȱbeforeȱtwentyȱweeks;ȱinformationȱaboutȱtheȱrisksȱ ofȱ abortionȱ andȱ ofȱ carryingȱ theȱ fetusȱ toȱ term,ȱ andȱ inforȬ mationȱregardingȱalternativesȱtoȱabortionȱandȱotherȱsupportȱ servicesȱavailable.ȱInd.ȱCodeȱ §ȱ16Ȭ34Ȭ2Ȭ1.1(a)(1)Ȭ(2).ȱAȱwomȬ anȱ seekingȱ anȱ abortionȱ mustȱ alsoȱ receiveȱ aȱ colorȱ copyȱ ofȱ aȱ brochure,ȱauthoredȱandȱdistributedȱbyȱtheȱIndianaȱStateȱDeȬ partmentȱ ofȱ Health,ȱ thatȱ containsȱ allȱ ofȱ thisȱ sameȱ inforȬ mation.ȱ Theȱ Stateȱ controlsȱ everyȱ aspectȱ ofȱ theȱ informationȱ conveyedȱtoȱpatientsȱviaȱthisȱbrochure—fromȱtheȱdrawings,ȱ toȱ theȱ color,ȱ informationȱ aboutȱ development,ȱ andȱ wordingȱ ofȱtheȱrisksȱofȱtheȱprocedures.ȱNeitherȱtheȱ brochureȱnorȱtheȱ informedȬconsentȱ informationȱ hasȱ beenȱ challengedȱ inȱ thisȱ litigation.ȱȱ Priorȱtoȱtheȱenactmentȱofȱtheȱchallengedȱlaw,ȱIndianaȱreȬ quiredȱthatȱ“[b]eforeȱanȱabortionȱisȱperformed,ȱtheȱproviderȱ shallȱperform,ȱandȱtheȱpregnantȱwomanȱshallȱview,ȱtheȱfetalȱ ultrasoundȱ imagingȱ andȱ hearȱ theȱ auscultationȱ ofȱ theȱ fetalȱ heartȱtoneȱifȱtheȱfetalȱheartȱtoneȱisȱaudible,”ȱunlessȱtheȱpregȬ nantȱ womanȱ certifiedȱ inȱ writing,ȱ onȱ aȱ formȱ draftedȱ byȱ theȱ Indianaȱ Stateȱ Departmentȱ ofȱ Health,ȱ thatȱ sheȱ declinedȱ toȱ viewȱ theȱ ultrasoundȱ orȱ hearȱ theȱ fetalȱ heartȱ tone.ȱ Ind.ȱ Codeȱ §ȱ16Ȭ34Ȭ2Ȭ1.1(b)ȱ(2011).ȱInȱotherȱwords,ȱtheȱproviderȱmustȱofȬ ferȱ theȱ ultrasound,ȱ butȱ aȱ womanȱ mayȱ affirmativelyȱ decline.ȱ Priorȱ toȱ 2011ȱ theȱ providerȱ didȱ notȱ haveȱ toȱ offerȱ theȱ ultraȬ sound,ȱbutȱonlyȱhadȱtoȱprovideȱoneȱifȱspecificallyȱrequestedȱ byȱtheȱwoman.ȱP.L.ȱ193Ȭ2011,ȱSec.ȱ9.ȱInȱfiscalȱyearȱ2016,ȱonlyȱ approximatelyȱ 25%ȱ ofȱ womenȱ seekingȱ abortionȱ servicesȱ choseȱ toȱ viewȱ theirȱ ultrasoundȱ imagesȱ andȱ onlyȱ approxiȬ matelyȱ 7%ȱ choseȱ toȱ listenȱ toȱ theȱ fetalȱ heartȱ tone.ȱ Mostȱ imȬ portantlyȱ forȱ thisȱ litigation,ȱ beforeȱ 2016,ȱ theȱ statuteȱ didȱ notȱ mandateȱ whenȱ theȱ ultrasoundȱ mustȱ occur,ȱ otherȱ thanȱ priorȱ No.ȱ17Ȭ1883ȱ 5

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/planned-parenthood-of-indiana-v-commissioner-of-the-indiana-ca7-2018.