Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)-The Twelfth Judicial District Court of Tennessee will hear oral arguments in Blackmon v. Tennessee—a case filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of nine plaintiffs: seven Tennessee women denied medically necessary abortion care who faced severe and dangerous pregnancy complications, and two Tennessee physicians who have been prevented from offering their patients the medically indicated treatment during obstetrical emergencies.
The hearing will focus on the Center’s request to temporarily block the state’s abortion ban as it applies to dangerous pregnancy complications, as well as the State of Tennessee’s request to dismiss the case.
The hearing will be held Thursday, April 4 at the Metropolitan Historic Courthouse. Arguments begin at 9:00AM CT / 10:00AM ET
The hearing will be livestreamed on the Court’s YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/@TNCourts2
Plaintiffs in Blackmon v. Tennessee ask the court to clarify what circumstances qualify under the “medical emergency” exception in Tennessee’s abortion ban. Confusing language and non-medical terminology in the law has left doctors uncertain about when they are legally able to provide abortion care without being prosecuted. Doctors in the state face loss of licensure and up to 15 years in prison for violating the law. Meanwhile, pregnant people are being forced to either wait until they are near death to receive care or flee the state if they have the means to do so.
The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, Morrison & Foerster LLP, and Barrett, Johnston, Martin, & Garrison LLC on behalf of plaintiffs Nicole Blackmon; Allyson Phillips; Kaitlyn Dulong; Monica Kelly; Kathryn Archer; Rebecca Milner; Rachel Fulton; Heather Maune, M.D.; and Laura Andreson, D.O. Defendants in the case include the State of Tennessee, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, and President of the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, Melanie Blake M.D.
Arguing on behalf of plaintiffs will be Center for Reproductive Rights attorneys Linda Goldstein and Marc Hearron.
