HEADS-UP: 'Unacceptable': Right-Wing Judge Attempts to Keep Key Abortion Pill Hearing Secret

[GGoss]

'Unacceptable': Right-Wing Judge Attempts to Keep Key Abortion Pill Hearing Secret
One attorney said Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's actions ahead of a hearing planned for Wednesday were "bordering on judicial misconduct."

Ahead of a major hearing scheduled for Wednesday in a closely watched case which could further limit abortion access across the United States, reproductive rights advocates and journalists are decrying what one attorney called a right-wing judge's "informal gag order... bordering on judicial misconduct."

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk is scheduled to preside over the first hearing in a case brought by right-wing group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in Amarillo, Texas on Wednesday, with lawyers for the organization arguing that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should never have approved mifespristone for medication abortion use in 2000, and the U.S. Justice Department opposing that claim. ADF aims to force the FDA to revoke its approval.

As The Washington Post reported Saturday, the right-wing judge scheduled the hearing last Friday in a call with lawyers on both sides, and in what one expert called a "very irregular" move, directed the attorneys to keep the hearing under wraps in order to minimize the possibility of protests.

Kacsmaryk also said he would delay putting the hearing on the public court docket, as judges usually do to keep the public and media informed about developments. He indicated he would make the hearing public knowledge only on Tuesday evening, making it difficult for Texans and members of the media to travel to Amarillo from other parts of the state and country. The city is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Dallas, the closest major Texas city; a nearly four-hour drive from Oklahoma City; and served by few daily direct flights...

Link: https://www.commondreams.org/news/judge-abortion-pill-hearing

[grantcart]

1. Seems like a clear case of forum shopping

[onenote]

4. It is. But forum shopping isn't illegal.

Which explains, I imagine, why the administration has not objected or sought a change of venue.

[barbtries]

2. jeezus

i have republicans.
none of them should be judges because they hate women and have little use for the law.

[Trenzalore]

3. Like Dobbs the decision was already decided before hearing the case

[Liberal In Texas]

5. I'm guessing he isn't afraid of protests from the anti-abortion crowd.

I hope they have the appeal ready to file one minute after he renders his biased verdict.