'Personhood' appeal nixed; let's move on
BY World's Editorials Writers
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
10/30/12 at 2:53 AM
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided it will not hear an appeal over a "personhood" measure that backers wanted placed in the state Constitution.
The high court's decision comes on the heels of an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that the constitutional amendment could not go before voters because it was "void on its face" and "clearly unconstitutional."
What else do we need to know? Could we now move on to other critical issues crying out for action?
The measure would have essentially declared a fertilized human egg to be a person with all the rights associated with that status. The proposal, which has been put forth in various forms in the last couple of years, unleashed a torrent of controversy, with medical, legal and other experts claiming it would result in far-reaching consequences.
It was no secret that the real intent of the measure was to attempt to outlaw abortion.
Backers of the measure were in the process of seeking signatures to put it on the Nov. 6 ballot, but they were thwarted when a challenge of the measure brought by the Center of Reproductive Rights and the ACLU succeeded.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the petition was "void on its face" and "clearly unconstitutional."
"The United States Supreme Court has spoken on this issue," wrote Chief Justice Steven Taylor. "The states are duty bound to follow its interpretation of the law."
Now that the measure seems definitely doomed, it would be refreshing if our leaders would get to work on such pressing matters as education, infrastructure and health care. It would be nice if the political posturing would ratchet down.
But of course, we all know that's not going to happen. So look for more of the same.
Original Print Headline: No to hearing
