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Taking note of maneuvering in Ohio, pro-choice activists in Nevada put together an initiative that would guarantee abortion access in their state. However, on Wednesday, District Judge James T. Russell tossed out the proposed text. That's obviously a bit of a setback.
At issue is a Nevada law (which has counterparts in many states) that limits ballot initiatives to one issue each. The proposed text would have ensured that:
[E]very individual has a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including, without limitation, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, vasectomy, tubal ligation, abortion, abortion care, management of a miscarriage and infertility care.
Russell found this to be considerably more than one issue, while also complaining that the provisions of the proposed initiative were not spelled out fully enough. So, he tossed the text. In case it is of interest, Russell was appointed to the bench by then-governor Jim Gibbons, a Republican, and the most conservative governor Nevada has had this century.
The pro-choice forces are going to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, which has a slight liberal lean. They will also work up a new text, and see if they can get that approved. They have until July 8 to come up with wording that passes muster, and then to collect at least 100,000 signatures. Needless to say, with a presidential and U.S. Senate race that both figure to be close, Democrats would really, really, really like to get this on the ballot in 2024, instead of having to wait until 2026. (Z)