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New lawsuit seeks to finish the job and...

New lawsuit seeks to finish the job and end judicially-imposed, elective abortion policy in Mississippi

By: Frank Corder - December 2, 2022

Aaron Rice and Andy Taggart joined Y’all Politics to talk about the latest effort to clarify that abortion is not protected by the Mississippi Constitution. WATCH.

Most Mississippians would think that the U.S. Supreme Court’s action this summer overturning Roe v. Wade through the case known as Dobbs and the subsequent legislative “trigger law” that went into effect soon thereafter outlawing abortion expect for instance of the formal charge of rape or to protect the life of the mother would have ended any confusion on the practice of abortion in the Magnolia State.

However, there remains a bit of ambiguity because of a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court ruling in the Pro-Choice Mississippi v. Fordice case that held that the Mississippi Constitution did allow for abortions in the state. Of course, that ruling relied heavily on the U.S. Supreme Court’s holdings and reasoning in both Roe and Casey, which the Dobbs decision overturned.

To put a bit of finality on this saga and to have the Mississippi Supreme Court reconsider its 24-year-old ruling that has now been called into question by Dobbs, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists partnered with the Mississippi Justice Institute to file a lawsuit seeking to clarify that abortion is not protected by the Mississippi Constitution.

Aaron Rice, the director of the Mississippi Justice Institute, and Andy Taggart, a founding partner of Taggart, Rimes & Wiggins, PLLC, and a volunteer attorney with the Mississippi Justice Institute, joined Y’all Politics on Friday to discuss this new case.

Watch the full interview with Rice and Taggart below.

About the Author(s)
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Frank Corder

For nearly two decades, Frank Corder has reported and offered analysis on government, public policy, elections, business and matters of faith. He is the Editor for Magnolia Tribune where he oversees the day-to-day content development. Frank’s interviews, articles, and columns have been syndicated throughout Mississippi as well as in various national publications. His resume includes appearances on the BBC, CBS News, ABC News, and Fox News, among others. Frank is a frequent analyst on radio and television, providing insight and commentary on the inner workings of the Magnolia State and beyond. During his career, Frank has interviewed government officials and candidates from City Halls to the White House, including Presidential candidates, White House officials, U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, and Governors. He previously hosted his own local radio and television programs and has managed private businesses in the financial, hospitality, and retail sectors. Frank has served his community as an elected City Councilman and as an Assistant/Acting City Manager. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he led the effort to plan Pascagoula's recovery and rebuilding which earned him recognition as Mississippi's Volunteer of the Year. Frank also led Pascagoula's municipal government out of a $14.5 million deficit, which the Mississippi State Auditor heralded as a model for other communities facing dire financial straits. As the president of the Pascagoula High School Quarterback Club, Frank has self-published "The Book of Pascagoula Football." He has been married for over 25 years and has two children, both of whom work in public education. Email Frank: frank@magnoliatribune.com