Idaho is defending its pro-life law in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit against challenges from the Biden-Harris Administration. The case, United States of America v. State of Idaho, involves the administration's attempt to enforce federal law requiring emergency room doctors to perform abortions prohibited by Idaho’s Defense of Life Act.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador commented on the situation: “The Biden-Harris administration’s radical interpretation of federal law shows a lawless disregard for Idaho’s right to protect life. Idaho’s Defense of Life Act is perfectly consistent with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which requires doctors to care both for women and their ‘unborn children.’”
Labrador also addressed claims made by St. Luke’s hospital regarding women being airlifted out of state due to Idaho's law: “At the U.S. Supreme Court and in the 9th Circuit, the administration has repeated St. Luke’s hospital’s unsubstantiated claim that Idaho’s law required women to be emergency airlifted from our state to obtain an abortion. But when questioned under oath, St. Luke’s admitted it did not know why the women were transferred.”
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel John Bursch expressed confidence in Idaho's position: “Both Idaho’s law and EMTALA seek to protect the lives of women and their unborn children, and the consistency between those laws makes us confident about the future of this case.” He criticized what he sees as federal overreach: “Moreover, the government’s claim that it can use its spending power to override any state law it doesn’t like is breathtaking. It’s also wrong.”
Bursch emphasized that under Idaho's law, necessary medical care will continue: “Under Idaho’s law, doctors will continue to provide care to women experiencing ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and life-threatening conditions.” He concluded by urging judicial restraint on behalf of state sovereignty: “We join Idaho in urging the court to end the administration’s unlawful overreach and protect the people’s freedom to preserve life.”