Among the foundational purposes of government is the legal protection of vulnerable citizens against attacks by others or by government itself. Since the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions of 1973 our nation has withdrawn the vast majority of legal protections the unborn once enjoyed, contributing to new arguments over withdrawing protection for the newborn, the disabled, the sick elderly, and even the mentally ill and depressed. Reversing this spiral of declining respect for life is a cultural challenge, but cultural efforts cannot succeed without the commitment of society to embody protection for life in its foundational law. CLI supports these efforts through pinpoint research, data collection, and legal arguments offered to lawmakers and the courts by staff members and associated scholars.

Testimony of Dr. Christina Francis before the U.S. House of Rep. Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Christina M. Francis, M.D. | August 2, 2022

On July 19, 2022, the U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing titled “Roe Reversal: The Impacts of Taking Away the Constitutional Right to an Abortion.” Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) Associate Scholar, board-certified Ob/Gyn, and board member and CEO-elect of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and […]

Adoption Tax Credits: Utilization, State Expansions, and Taxpayer Savings (2022)

Charlotte Lozier Institute | August 1, 2022

By Matt Connell and Maria Donovan This is Issue 87 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: Adoption Tax Credits: Utilization, State Expansions, and Taxpayer Savings (2022) In 2013, the Charlotte Lozier Institute published a report titled, “The Adoption Tax Credit: Progress and Prospects for Expansion.” The report both […]

Fact Check: State Pro-Life Laws Explicitly Protect Lives of Pregnant Women

Charlotte Lozier Institute | July 27, 2022

Despite Pro-Abortion Misinformation, Plain Reading of Actual Laws Shows Necessary Medical Care is Protected Washington, D.C. – A new Charlotte Lozier Institute legal and medical analysis shows that all 23 states with strong pro-life laws currently on the books allow necessary and timely medical treatment for miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and other procedures necessary to […]

Science to Kentucky Judge Mitch Perry: Human Life Begins at Fertilization

Charlotte Lozier Institute | July 26, 2022

Kentucky Circuit Judge Confuses Basic Scientific Facts for Religious Belief in Decision to Block State Pro-Life Laws Washington, D.C. – Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry incorrectly claimed on Friday that two Kentucky pro-life laws were based on a “distinctly Christian doctrine of the beginning of life … unduly interfering with the free exercise of […]

The Role of Adoption in Dobbs-Era Pro-Life Policy

Elizabeth Kirk, J.D. | July 20, 2022

This is Issue 85 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: The Role of Adoption in Dobbs-Era Pro-Life Policy In discussions about the Dobbs era for America, adoption is mentioned often by those across the ideological spectrum. On the pro-life side, adoption is promoted as a life-giving alternative […]

Courts in Iowa and Mississippi Show Signs They Will Follow the U.S. Supreme Court

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | July 11, 2022

This is Issue 83 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: Courts in Iowa and Mississippi Show Signs They Will Follow the U.S. Supreme Court In an unparalleled victory for unborn children, their mothers, and the rule of law, on June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court […]

Fact Sheet: State Alternatives to Abortion Funding

Jeanneane Maxon, J.D. | June 28, 2022

This fact sheet may be viewed as a PDF: Fact Sheet: State Alternatives to Abortion Funding OVERVIEW Fourteen (14) states authorize some form of alternatives to abortion (A2A) funding to life-affirming Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs), which typically include pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, maternity homes and life-affirming social service agencies. These states include Florida, […]

Servant Leader, Pro-Life Fighter

Moira Gaul, M.P.H. | May 26, 2022

Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) associate scholar Jeanneane Maxon was honored with a special award at the recent Heartbeat International’s 50th annual conference March 28 – April 1, the theme of which was “Onward” for the over 1,500 people in attendance. The Servant Leader Award, named for Heartbeat International’s first president, Dr. Margaret Hartshorn, has been […]

New Radical Laws in States Hostile to Unborn Children

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | May 17, 2022

This is Issue 82 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: New Radical Laws in States Hostile to Unborn Children The United States Supreme Court will soon release its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, potentially marking the dawn of a brighter future for unborn children […]

Memo to Speaker Pelosi: Science Has Changed Significantly Since 1973

Charlotte Lozier Institute | May 9, 2022

Pelosi Appears Unaware of Advancements in Ultrasound, Fetal Diagnosis, Fetal Pain, and Prenatal Surgery Since Roe Washington, D.C. – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi incorrectly claimed on Sunday’s Face the Nation that “science hasn’t changed” while discussing her political views on abortion and the Dobbs late-term abortion case currently before the Supreme Court. Dr. […]

Overview of U.S. Pro-Life Bills & Provisions Advanced in the States from January to April 2022: Preparing for the Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Abortion Laws

Genevieve Plaster, M.A. | April 28, 2022

By Arina O. Grossu, M.A., M.S. and Genevieve Plaster, M.A. This is issue 80 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: Overview of U.S. Pro-Life Bills & Provisions Advanced in the States from January to April 2022: Preparing for the Impact of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Abortion […]

Using Tax Policy to Fund Pro-Life Objectives: A Case Study in Mississippi

Charlotte Lozier Institute | April 22, 2022

By Jameson Taylor, Ph.D. This is issue 79 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: Using Tax Policy to Fund Pro-Life Objectives: A Case Study in Mississippi For decades, the pro-life movement has fought federal funding decisions that channel hundreds of millions of dollars to pro-abortion nonprofits […]

Rockefeller Commission at 50: Pro-Life Leaders Reject ‘‘Heartless’’ Policies, Urge Respect for Human Life

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 28, 2022

A Declaration for a New American Future Washington, D.C. – 50 years ago, the Rockefeller Commission on Population Growth and the American Future released a massive report calling for the United States to achieve zero population growth. The March 27, 1972, report, requested by President Nixon and authorized by Congress, called for the […]

‘The Amazon Of Baby Body Parts’

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 24, 2022

Pro-Life Activists Say They Discovered Fetuses Stored in Paper Bags at University of Washington Washington, D.C. – A disturbing photograph released Wednesday reportedly show human fetuses stored in paper bags inside a freezer at the University of Washington Birth Defects Research Laboratory in Seattle. The photographs were taken by Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, Survivors of […]

Science to Judge Jackson: Yes, An Unborn Child Can Feel Pain

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 23, 2022

Pro-Abortion and Pro-Life Scientists Agree That Unborn Babies Are Capable of Pain as Early as 12 Weeks Washington, D.C. – Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson today answered, “I don’t know,” when asked by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) if an unborn child can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation. According to modern, […]

Public Health Threat: Delaware DHSS Data Reveals Dramatic Increase in Risky Abortion Method

Charlotte Lozier Institute | February 3, 2022

Multiple Studies Link Chemical Abortion to Higher Rates of Emergency Room Utilization and Complications Washington, D.C. – The most recent Delaware Health and Social Services data shows a dramatic increase in the use of potentially dangerous abortion drugs which multiple peer-reviewed studies have linked to higher rates of complications. The public data, analyzed […]

Chemical Abortion: FDA Ignores ‘Inconvenient’ Science and Data Confirming Public Health Threat

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 16, 2021

Major Studies Link Chemical Abortion to Higher Rates of Emergency Room Utilization and Complications Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced plans to irresponsibly erode longstanding patient safeguards on the abortion pill, despite major U.S. and international research confirming that chemical abortion has led to a surge in emergency […]

Memo for Justice Kagan: A Lot Has Changed Since Roe and Casey

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 1, 2021

Babies Can Now Be Seen Clearly, Diagnosed, and Treated Before Birth Washington, D.C. – Justice Elena Kagan today stated during Dobbs oral arguments that “not much has changed since Roe and Casey.” In reality, science and medicine have made tremendous advancements since 1973, including major advancements in ultrasound, fetal diagnosis, and the ability to […]

Justice Sotomayor Is Wrong: Fetal Pain Is Not ‘Fringe Science’

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 1, 2021

Science Demonstrates Unborn Babies Capable of Pain at 12 Weeks Washington, D.C. – Justice Sonia Sotomayor incorrectly claimed during today’s Dobbs oral arguments that the existence of fetal pain before 24 weeks is only believed by a “small fringe of doctors,” seeming to ignore modern peer-reviewed studies that have influenced the work of Dr. […]

Chief Justice Roberts Is Correct: U.S. Abortion Law Is Outside Global and European Mainstream

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 1, 2021

47 Out of 50 European Nations Limit Elective Abortion Prior to 15 Weeks Washington, D.C. – Chief Justice John Roberts correctly stated during today’s Dobbs oral arguments that United States abortion law is extreme in comparison to global and European norms. According to a comprehensive 2014 Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) analysis of abortion […]

Abortion Industry Cites Outdated Science, Flawed Analysis in Dobbs Late Abortion Case

Charlotte Lozier Institute | September 13, 2021

Babies Can Experience Pain Prior to 15 Weeks, Majority of European Countries Limit Abortion No Later Than 15 Weeks Washington, D.C. – Using outdated research and flawed analysis, the abortion industry today ignored both modern science and basic legal facts while asking America’s highest court to overturn Mississippi’s 15-week limit on late abortions. […]

Science: At 6 Weeks, Unborn Baby’s Heart Rate is Approximately 98 Beats Per Minute

Charlotte Lozier Institute | September 2, 2021

Following the Science on Texas Heartbeat Act Washington, D.C. – With a national debate raging over the new Texas law which protects life from the first heartbeat, what does science say about unborn babies at 6 weeks’ gestation? “While some people falsely claim that a preborn baby at 6 weeks’ gestation is just […]

Study on Reproductive Loss Shows Need for Advanced Grief Screening in Mothers

Hannah Howard | August 12, 2021

Reproductive loss impacts many women across the United States and around the world every day and can cause years of unresolved grief. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 10-20% of “known” pregnancies end in miscarriage.i In 2014, the latest year published, 24,000 stillbirths were reported in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

New Study: Rapid Repeat Pregnancy Most Common Among Women Who Have Abortions

Charlotte Lozier Institute | July 8, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2021 Medicaid Data in 17 States with Taxpayer-Funded Abortion “Consistent” with Evidence of Women Being Pressured into Unwanted Abortions Washington, D.C. – A new peer-reviewed study of 2,162,600 Medicaid beneficiaries in 17 states with state taxpayer-funded abortion shows that “rapid repeat pregnancy” (defined as a second pregnancy […]

Hyde @ 40: Analyzing the Impact of the Hyde Amendment with July 2020 Addendum

Michael J. New, Ph.D. | June 17, 2021

This paper provides a history of the Hyde Amendment and summarizes the substantial body of academic and policy research which shows that the Hyde Amendment lowers abortion rates. It uses this research to estimate the number of lives saved by the Hyde Amendment since it was first signed into law in 1976. Our estimates indicate that as of July 2020, the Hyde Amendment has saved approximately 2,409,311 lives.

10 Legal Reasons to Reject Roe

Susan Wills, J.D., LL.M. | June 15, 2021

Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court rarely attract much public interest. One news cycle and a few op-eds are probably the norm for even the most important and sweeping decisions. But one Supreme Court decision eclipses all others in the past century. Far from being forgotten, in the almost 50 years since Roe v. Wade announced that the “constitutional” right to privacy encompasses a woman’s decision to abort her child, including late-term abortions, its fame (or infamy) just keeps growing.

Overview of U.S. Pro-Life Bills and Provisions Advanced and Laws Enacted from January to May 2021: Pro-Life Banner Year as States Continue to Reject the Radical Abortion Agenda

Charlotte Lozier Institute | June 8, 2021

With the Biden administration reversing numerous life-affirming policies, it is clear there is an aggressive abortion agenda in Washington D.C. It is also clear the pro-abortion sentiment in the nation’s capital is not aligned with the views of Americans at the state level.

Map: Assisted Suicide in the States

Charlotte Lozier Institute | April 29, 2021

This map shows the status of laws prohibiting or permitting assisted suicide, including physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the United States. Last updated: April 29, 2021. To view as a PDF, see: Assisted Suicide in the States

CLI Comment: HHS Proposed Rule Fetal Tissue Regulations

David Prentice, Ph.D., Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. | April 16, 2021

The trafficking of aborted baby body parts for research is barbaric. The Trump administration was dedicated to ending this practice and protecting the sanctity of human life. Grave injustices were exposed that exploited unborn children for experimentation, but were not fully remedied. Policy changes brought an immediate halt to federal contracts that trafficked organs […]

The Hyde Amendment is Constitutional and Remains Critically Important

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | April 15, 2021

Abortion advocates have always vehemently opposed laws that limit taxpayer funding for abortion. The Hyde Amendment, which Congress has applied to the annual appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services for nearly all of the last 45 years, draws their greatest contempt, because it prohibits the use of federal and state matching Medicaid funds for most abortions—and has likely saved 2.4 million lives. However, for many years the abortion industry grudgingly tolerated lawmakers who supported the Hyde Amendment, for principled or pragmatic reasons, as long as they remained in lockstep with the rest of their abortion agenda.

FDA Decision to Relax Chemical Abortion Rule Ignores the Science, Neglects Women, Places Them in Danger

Charlotte Lozier Institute | April 13, 2021

“Our review of all the Adverse Events from mifepristone as an abortion drug revealed serious concerns about hemorrhage, infections, and fetal tissue left inside. There were over 500 life-threatening complications, which would have been deaths if the women had not had timely access to the Emergency Room. These women without access to an ER are exactly the women being targeted with abortions by mail, and those who are most at risk of death by patient abandonment. We know from other studies that reports from the FDA only represent a small fraction of the actual adverse events happening to women across the country.”

D.C. Statehood and Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

Charlotte Lozier Institute | April 13, 2021

To view this fact sheet as a PDF, see: Fact Sheet: D.C. Statehood and Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Medicaid covers abortions only in rare cases. Since 1976, federal funding for Medicaid has been passed by Congress with an annual rider known as the Hyde Amendment, which limits federal dollars from funding abortion except in […]

Questions and Answers on Born-Alive Abortion Survivors

Charlotte Lozier Institute | April 12, 2021

Last updated: April 14, 2021 To view this fact sheet as a PDF, see: Fact Sheet: Questions and Answers on Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Do Late-Term Abortions Really Happen in the U.S.? Yes. The definition of a late-term abortion is imprecise – and shifting. The gestational age at which an unborn child can […]

Written Testimony of Dr. Tara Sander Lee on South Dakota’s HB 1110 to Prohibit Abortions due to Down Syndrome

Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. | March 11, 2021

Dr. Tara Sander Lee testified on HB 1110, noting her scientific and clinical experience spanning 20 years, which includes expertise in molecular genetics and diagnostic testing. Dr. Sander Lee provided information on: the incidence of Down syndrome in the United States, methods of prenatal screening and testing, the high false-positive rate of incorrect reporting in standard screening tests, limitations with newer methods of non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS or NIPT), and the “perinatal revolution”

SBA List and Charlotte Lozier Institute Join Coalition Defending Life in El Salvador

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 1, 2021

On February 22, Susan B. Anthony List and Charlotte Lozier Institute were pleased to join in an amicus brief filed alongside 26 other organizations in a major case pending before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. The brief was filed in the case Manuela and Family v. El Salvador.

The Bold Finish of a Pro-life Administration

Katey Price, J.D. | February 8, 2021

This paper will explore some of the major pro-life gains made in the past four years, including those made in the final days of the Trump administration and preview what may come in the days and weeks ahead.

Assisted Suicide’s Slippery Slope in Action: Washington State May Drop “Safeguards” Against Abuse

Richard Doerflinger, M.A. | January 25, 2021

Opponents of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) have long warned that there is a “slippery slope” from initially limited acceptance of the practice to a broader “right” to take the lives of the sick and elderly. PAS supporters have generally dismissed this claim as alarmist. In my home state of Washington, however, supporters are now embracing the claim, and urging lawmakers to ski down the slope.

The “Equality Act”: Threatening Life and Equality

Richard Doerflinger, M.A. | January 14, 2021

Former vice-president Joseph Biden has made it clear that on becoming President, he hopes to advance his party’s stand on so-called “social issues” such as abortion and the LGBTQ agenda. His ability to do so will depend on whether he will be working with a Congress that shares his goals.

New Obamacare Report Uncovers Massive Taxpayer Subsidies for Abortion; Continuing Violation of Hyde Amendment Principles

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 18, 2020

Pro-life Americans Deserve Transparency in Healthcare Plans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2020 Contact: Prudence Robertson, probertson@sbalist.org, 240-672-2828 Washington, D.C. – Today Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), the research arm of Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), in partnership with Family Research Council (FRC) and The Heritage Foundation, released a new report detailing the extent […]

The 4th Circuit and a Case on Abortion Telemedicine in the Time of COVID-19

Katey Price, J.D. | November 18, 2020

A Summary of a Recent Amicus Brief Filed by 102 Members of Congress Twenty-four U.S. senators and 78 members of the House of Representatives have filed a bicameral amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the case of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists v. United States Food and Drug Administration (ACOG v. […]

COVID-19, Nursing Homes, and the Need to Protect the Elderly

Hannah Howard | October 7, 2020

*The term “resident” will be used to describe nursing home residents unless otherwise indicated. **All data is accurate as of 10/06/2020 In early 2020 news began circulating that a life-threatening respiratory illness was sweeping across the world and had made its way to the United States. Reactions to the severity of the problem […]

Medical and Social Risks Associated with Unmitigated Distribution of Mifepristone: A Primer

Hannah Howard | October 1, 2020

This is Issue 51 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 51: Medical and Social Risks Associated with Unmitigated Distribution of Mifepristone: A Primer Chemical abortions, or “medication” abortions, have become a more prevalent method of abortion in recent years in the United States. In 2000, […]

A Policy and Funding Evaluation Of Human Fetal Tissue Research

Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D., James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. | September 11, 2020

This is Issue 2 in CLI’s On Science. To view this report as a PDF, see: A Policy and Funding Evaluation Of Human Fetal Tissue Research Background The body parts of preborn babies that die through the act of elective abortion are harvested and sold to desiring scientists for experimentation. These acts are heinous, […]

The “No-Test Medication Abortion” Protocol: Experimenting with Women’s Health

Ingrid Skop, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. | July 30, 2020

This is Issue 49 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 49: The “No-Test Medication Abortion” Protocol: Experimenting with Women’s Health A trend of mounting concern is occurring in abortion provision. When elective induced abortion was legalized in the United States in 1973, one oft-cited motivation […]

Addendum to Hyde @ 40: Analyzing the Impact of the Hyde Amendment

Michael J. New, Ph.D. | July 21, 2020

An addendum has been written that provides information about state policy changes regarding taxpayer funding of abortion since 2016. This addendum also includes revised calculations of the number of lives saved by the Hyde Amendment. For the full 2016 report, please see Hyde @ 40: Analyzing the Impact of the Hyde Amendment Addendum […]

Top 7 quotes from dissenting opinions in the June Medical abortion case

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | June 30, 2020

On June 29, 2020 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where they perform the abortion. Justice Breyer announced the judgment of the Court and delivered an opinion joined by Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan. Chief Justice […]

After June Medical ruling, meaning of Hellerstedt legal standard remains open question

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | June 29, 2020

The Supreme Court’s ruling today in the June Medical case does not answer the question whether the free-form balancing test required by the 2016 Hellerstedt decision “supplants” or “supplements” the undue burden test from Casey. Background Before Hellerstedt, it was thought that a health and safety regulation would pass muster if it was reasonably related to […]

Six States and Their Radical Approaches to Abortion Law

Katey Price, J.D. | June 25, 2020

This is Issue 48 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 48: Six States and Their Radical Approaches to Abortion Law In 2019, there was a flurry of activity around abortion laws at the state level on both sides of the abortion debate. While states such […]

Will Ohio Down Syndrome Law Split the Circuit Courts, Provoke Supreme Court Review?

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | May 20, 2020

This is Issue 47 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 47: Will Ohio Down Syndrome Law Split the Circuit Courts, Provoke Supreme Court Review? As the Supreme Court moves toward the end of its term having heard abortion cases involving admitting privileges and legal standing, […]

An Ethics Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Programs

James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D., David Prentice, Ph.D. | May 6, 2020

Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Chart This is Issue 46 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 46: An Ethics Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Programs This page outlines the ethical considerations involved solely in vaccine production, based on information present at the time of publication. Subsequently, publication […]

Title X Litigation Update: What’s Next for Trump’s Protect Life Rule after Huge Win in Ninth Circuit?

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | April 7, 2020

This is Issue 44 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 44 Pro-Life Topics for Lawmakers Regarding Coronavirus In February 2019 the Trump administration finalized the Protect Life Rule, a new regulation governing Title X of the Public Health Service Act. Title X is the federal […]

The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Ethics of Triage

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 26, 2020

by R. J. Snell, Ph.D. This paper can be viewed as a pdf here: The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Ethics of Triage As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Italy, many hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, necessitating difficult triage decisions that can seem like choosing who lives and who dies. In the United States, already […]

Pro-Life Topics for Lawmakers Regarding Coronavirus

Mary E. Harned, J.D., Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. | March 25, 2020

This is Issue 43 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 43 Pro-Life Topics for Lawmakers Regarding Coronavirus. Abortion advocates have found a new ally—COVID-19. During this intensely stressful time, the vast majority of Americans are focused on protecting their health and the health of […]

Charlotte Lozier Institute Responds to Claim that Aborted Baby Parts Are Needed to Develop COVID-19 Treatment

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 19, 2020

Washington, D.C. – In response to news reports claiming that potential treatments for coronavirus will not be discovered unless the body parts of aborted children are used in experiments, the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) issued the following comment: “Those who advocate experimentation using body parts harvested from aborted children are shamelessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic, […]

Why the Global Protect Life Rule is Right for the U.S. and Nations Around the World

Charlotte Lozier Institute | March 11, 2020

By Shea Garrison, Ph.D., M.S. This is Issue 41 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: Why the Global Protect Life Rule is Right for the U.S. and Nations Around the World The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) calls for legal protection […]

An Analysis of How Medicaid Expansion in Kansas Will Affect Abortion Rates

Michael J. New, Ph.D. | February 19, 2020

This is Issue 40 in CLI’s On Point Series. To view this report as a PDF, see: An Analysis of How Medicaid Expansion in Kansas Will Affect Abortion Rates. Executive Summary This month, the Kansas state legislature will consider legislation that would expand Kansas’ Medicaid program. Currently, the Kansas Medicaid program does not […]

The Supreme Court Has Said It Will Hear a Major Abortion Case from Louisiana. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | December 30, 2019

Editor’s Note (2/27/2020): Since the time of initial publication, the name of the case, June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Gee, has changed to June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Russo. This report may be viewed in its entirety as a PDF at: ARS_The Supreme Court Has Said It Will Hear a Major Abortion Case from Louisiana […]

Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | November 21, 2019

This is Issue 37 in CLI’s On Point Series and update to Issue 33. To view this report as a PDF, see: On Point 37 Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts Introduction Our nation’s highest court may soon clarify or modify federal abortion jurisprudence after agreeing to hear June Medical Services v. […]

Anti-Discrimination Laws in the Womb: New Momentum for Protection

Charles A. “Chuck” Donovan | October 25, 2019

The entire text of this publication may be found as a pdf at Anti-Discrimination Laws in the Womb: New Momentum for Protection. Something interesting is afoot in recent disappointments for advocates of the right to life. In a series of cases that may test the appeal of a new jurisprudence on abortion, two federal […]

Pro-Life Laws, Regulation, and Demonstrable Citizen Action in Missouri

Moira Gaul, M.P.H. | October 22, 2019

“Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law” is a befitting state motto for Missouri, where in 2019 pro-life lawmakers and officials have been very busy trying to make the state a safer place for unborn children and their mothers. While many of these legislative and legal efforts have been widely publicized, a […]

Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Priority Revealed Through Rejection of Title X Funding

Jeanneane Maxon, J.D. | August 19, 2019

Today, August 19, 2019, the Protect Life Rule, which is designed to re-establish the original bright-line separation between abortion and the use of Title X funding, is set to go into effect. Planned Parenthood receives approximately $60 million in federal Title X funding annually. In a recent letter to the U.S. 9thCircuit Court of Appeals, […]

Landmark Pain-Capable and Five-Month Abortion Bans

Charlotte Lozier Institute | August 15, 2019

*This map is current as of August 2019.

Legislative and Litigation Overview of Five-Month Abortion Laws Enacted Before or After 2010

Thomas M. Messner, J.D., Amanda Stirone Mansfield, J.D. | August 13, 2019

Note: This paper was updated in August 2021 and can be found at: https://lozierinstitute.org/legislative-and-litigation-overview-of-20-week-abortion-laws/ The entire paper may be viewed as a pdf here: On-Point-34_Legislative-and-Litigation-Overview-of-Five-Month-Abortion-Laws-Enacted-Before-and-After-2010_Final This paper sets out legislative and litigation information involving state laws that prohibit abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy, roughly five months or more than halfway through pregnancy. […]

Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | July 12, 2019

This is an updated version of On Point Issue 26 and On Point Issue 29. To view this report as a PDF, see: Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts Introduction While several states have appealed court decisions enjoining abortion restrictions to the United States Supreme Court, the Court has thus far failed to clarify or […]

Justice Thomas Confirms that Down Syndrome Issue Presents Question of “First Impression”

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | June 7, 2019

On May 28, 2019 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-anticipated ruling in an abortion case from Indiana involving disposition of fetal remains and whether a state may prohibit abortions performed because of the child’s race, sex, or diagnosis of Down syndrome or other disability. The lower courts had struck down both policies. The […]

Lozier Institute Adds 4 New Associate Scholars

Katey Price, J.D. | May 21, 2019

Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) is pleased to announce the addition of four new associate scholars to its roster of now 60 accomplished physicians, research scientists, statisticians, attorneys and theologians. The new associate scholars are Rev. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P., Ph.D., S.T.D., Drs. J. Wells Logan, M.D., Robin Pierucci, M.D., M.A. and Kathryn Nix Carnahan, M.D. […]

Top 7 Quotes from Justice Stegall’s Opinion Dissenting from Kansas Supreme Court Abortion Ruling

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | April 26, 2019

On April 26, 2019 the Kansas Supreme Court declared that the Kansas state constitution guarantees a right to abortion. The case involves a challenge to a Kansas statute banning the practice of dismemberment abortion—i.e., “with the purpose of causing the death of an unborn child, knowingly dismembering a living unborn child and extracting such […]

Removal of “Sexual and Reproductive Health” Language from UN Resolution: What the Media Got Wrong

Michael J. New, Ph.D. | April 24, 2019

Many mainstream media outlets are unfairly criticizing the Trump administration for removing the phrase “Sexual and Reproductive Health” from a United Nations resolution on sexual violence. Such a policy change was necessary to ensure that this resolution did not support legal abortion. Many organizations affiliated with the United Nations including the United Nations Population Fund […]

Massachusetts’ Draconian Abortion Proposal

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | April 18, 2019

This is part of CLI’s On Point Series and appears as Issue 31. To view the report as a PDF, see: Massachusetts’ Draconian Abortion Proposal. Introduction In the first few months of 2019, with the prospect of a Supreme Court that is more willing to defer to state judgments about abortion law, several […]

Abortion Reporting: Missouri (2017)

Tessa Longbons | April 15, 2019

Missouri’s 2017 abortion report reveals that abortions in the state have fallen every year over the past decade. Since 2008, abortions performed in Missouri have dropped by 47 percent. Changes in Missouri Abortions, 2016-2017 *Total abortions occurring in Missouri. Missouri also reports abortions performed on Missouri residents both inside and outside the […]

Overview of Legislation and Litigation Involving Protections Against Down Syndrome Discrimination Abortion

Amanda Stirone Mansfield, J.D. | March 21, 2019

To view this report as a PDF, see: Overview of Legislation and Litigation Involving Protections Against Down Syndrome Discrimination Abortion Last updated: March 21, 2019. Five states have enacted legislation to prohibit the eugenic practice of Down syndrome discrimination abortion. Courts have enjoined the law in three of the states. Several additional states have […]

Federal Trial Court Won’t Block Missouri Admitting Privileges Requirement Pending Further Litigation

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | February 27, 2019

A federal district court has denied a motion by abortion providers to temporarily block a health and safety law in Missouri. The case is Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains v. Randall Williams, No. 2:16-cv-04313 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The case is on remand following a […]

Statement in Opposition to Raised Bill No. 7070 “An Act Concerning Deceptive Advertising Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers”

Jeanneane Maxon, J.D. | February 12, 2019

On June 26, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in NIFLA v. Becerra, striking down a California law that interfered with the free speech rights of pregnancy help centers to counsel women and offer alternatives to abortion. The 5-4 decision should have quelled the efforts across the country by state and city governments to […]

Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | February 12, 2019

This is an updated version of On Point Issue 26. To view this report as a PDF, see: Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts. To view the most recent version, see: Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts, On Point 33 Introduction The challenged abortion laws that may be reviewed by the United […]

Written Testimony of David A. Prentice, Ph.D., in Support of Ethical Alternatives to Aborted Fetal Tissue Research

David Prentice, Ph.D. | January 9, 2019

On Thursday, December 13, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Healthcare, Benefits, and Administrative Rules and Government Operations for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on “Exploring Alternatives to Fetal Tissue Research.” The hearing was called as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services re-evaluates funding for research using tissue from […]

Reviving the Equal Rights Amendment to Keep Abortion Legal

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 21, 2018

By Robert Marshall Many Americans think of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as an issue from another era in American history. And so it is – a 22-word amendment to the Constitution first proposed in 1972, fiercely debated, but failing of ratification by the deadlines Congress established, then extended by majority vote, for it. […]

Written Testimony of Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D., in Support of Ethical Alternatives to Aborted Fetal Tissue Research

Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. | December 20, 2018

Justice Thomas to Supreme Court Justices: Don’t “consult popularity,” rely only on “the Constitution and the laws”

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | December 18, 2018

Last week Justice Clarence Thomas issued a respectful but strong admonition to his colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Thomas’s admonition comes in his opinion dissenting from the decision of the Court to deny review in Gee v. Planned Parenthood, No. 17-1492, and Andersen v. Planned Parenthood, No. 17-1340. As the Supreme […]

Five-Month Abortion Limits: Executive Summaries of Charlotte Lozier Institute Papers

Charlotte Lozier Institute | December 17, 2018

The following are papers published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute in the On Point or American Reports Series on issues involving 20-week or five-month abortion laws.

Pro-life Advocates Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Two Indiana Pro-life Laws

Charlotte Lozier Institute | November 16, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2018 Contact: Mallory Quigley, mquigley@sbalist.org, 202-223-8073 Briefs Submitted in Support of Ban on Down Syndrome Discrimination Abortions and Humane Disposition of Fetal Remains Washington, D.C. – The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) has submitted an amicus curiae brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold […]

Former Kennedy Law Clerk Argues Stare Decisis No Obstacle to Reversing Roe and Casey’s “Viability Rule”

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | November 10, 2018

To view as a PDF, see: Former Kennedy Law Clerk Argues Stare Decisis No Obstacle to Reversing Roe and Casey’s “Viability Rule” Table of Contents I. The “viability rule”—the “most central principle” of Roe v. Wade II. “Stare decisis”—what it is and why abortion activists invoke it with vigor III. The three exceptions to […]

Indiana Seeks Supreme Court Review in Down Syndrome Abortion Case

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | October 25, 2018

In employment law, the rule of “at will” employment provides that an employer may dismiss an employee at any time for any nonprohibited reason or no reason at all. However, that general rule is subject to exceptions, such as the rule that employers may not dismiss an employee based on a protected status such as […]

Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | October 23, 2018

This article has been updated. To view the most recent version, see: Abortion Cases in the Higher Federal Courts, On Point 33 Introduction The challenged abortion laws that may arrive at the United States Supreme Court in the near future can be divided into three main groups: (I) Limitations on the availability of […]

Ten Truths about Title X

Jeanneane Maxon, J.D. | October 10, 2018

To view this report as a PDF, see: Ten Truths about Title X Introduction Title X was enacted in 1970 as an addition to the Public Health Service Act (the “Act”), becoming the only federal grant program directed solely at providing individuals and families with comprehensive family planning and related reproductive health services. Title […]

Abortion Industry’s Latest Strategy Dismissed in Virginia Lawsuit

Mary E. Harned, J.D. | October 3, 2018

Last week, a federal court held that a lawsuit challenging multiple pro-life laws in Virginia may proceed. However, the court rightfully dismissed the plaintiffs’ “cumulative undue burden” claim—the centerpiece of the abortion industry’s latest strategy to undermine laws written to protect unborn children and their mothers. While it is common for abortion providers to […]

Federal Appeals Court Hands Louisiana Major Pro-Life Victory on Admitting Privileges Regulation

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | September 28, 2018

Louisiana has won a major pro-life victory in federal appeals court. On September 26, 2018 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a lower court ruling and upheld a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where they perform abortions. The Fifth […]

Supreme Court Pro-Life Ruling Has Local Impact: ADF Secures Victory for Hawaii Pregnancy Centers

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | September 24, 2018

National elections have local consequences. The President nominates Supreme Court justices. Supreme Court justices decide important cases. And sometimes those cases make a big difference at a very local level. Last week a federal trial court in Hawaii ruled in favor of A Place for Women in Waipio, a local pregnancy help […]

Victory: Court Strikes Down Another State Law Targeting Pro-life Pregnancy Centers

Charlotte Lozier Institute | September 21, 2018

CLI Report: Thousands of Pregnancy Centers Nationwide Served Nearly 2,000,000 People in 2017, Saving Communities at Least $161 Million FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2018 Contact: Nicole Stacy, nstacy@sbalist.org, 202-223-8073 Washington, D.C. – In response to news that a Hawaii law forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise abortion has been struck down in […]

Eighth Circuit on Hellerstedt: Supreme Court did not find, as a matter of law, that “abortion was inherently safe”

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | September 19, 2018

Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an important opinion in the abortion case Comprehensive Health v. Josh Hawley (No. 17-1996). At issue were two pro-life laws from Missouri. The hospital relationship requirement requires all doctors who perform abortions at ambulatory surgical centers to be privileged to perform […]

Minnesota Court Rules in Favor of University’s Use of Aborted Fetal Tissue for Research

Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. | September 4, 2018

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled in opposition of Pro-life Action Ministries, legally represented by Thomas More Society, which filed a lawsuit in 2016 against the University of Minnesota for its unlawful use of aborted human fetal tissue in research. Pro-life Action Ministries alleged that the University of Minnesota was procuring and […]

Frozen Embryos and the “Disposition Decision”

Charlotte Lozier Institute | July 16, 2018

“Now, they’re gone. Now, I’m never going to know what those babies are going to grow up to be or anything. That’s how it hurts me.” Carrianne Mahoney, a woman suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome, uttered these words in March after she and other patients were notified that a system malfunction at Cleveland’s […]

Q&A with the Scholars: Treatment of Medically Vulnerable Patients

Bobby Schindler, M.S. | July 13, 2018

Bobby Schindler is president of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network and associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Bobby advocates for the medically vulnerable in honor of Terri Schiavo, his sister. A full-time advocate, speaker, and writer, Bobby and the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network have been instrumental in providing resources and […]

State Regulation of Telemedicine Abortion and Court Challenges to Those Regulations

Amanda Stirone Mansfield, J.D. | July 3, 2018

To view this report as a PDF, see: State Regulation of Telemedicine Abortion and Court Challenges to Those Regulations In February 2018, an article appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine (Cosmo) lauding the practice of telemedicine abortion.[1] The article described the process of meeting with a nurse for blood testing and an ultrasound at a “local health […]

The Hill: Supreme Court ruling may pave way for more faith-based pregnancy centers

Charlotte Lozier Institute | June 27, 2018

BY JESSIE HELLMANN June 26, 2018 – 10:12 AM EDT The Supreme Court’s ruling Tuesday in favor of anti-abortion clinics in California will make it easier for similar facilities in other states to dissuade women from getting abortions. The court ruled 5-4 that a California law requiring clinics known as “crisis pregnancy centers” to inform women […]

Pregnancy Centers Win Major Legal Contest at Supreme Court

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | June 26, 2018

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that pregnancy help centers are likely to succeed in a challenge to a California law forcing them to advertise for abortion. The case isn’t over. It will go back to the trial court for additional fact finding and then a final ruling on the legal issues. But […]

Minnesota Governor Vetoes Informed Consent Bill

Charlotte Lozier Institute | June 13, 2018

On May 16, 2018, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (D) vetoed legislation that would have protected patient autonomy and shielded physicians from liability. The Minnesota Legislature passed and presented S.F. 2849 to Governor Dayton to ensure that expectant mothers may give informed consent to abortion procedures. S.F. 2849 would have codified a woman’s right to […]

Supreme Court Denies Planned Parenthood Request for Review

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | June 4, 2018

On May 29, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for a writ of certiorari filed earlier this year by Planned Parenthood of Arkansas & Eastern Oklahoma. Planned Parenthood had asked the Supreme Court to review the opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in a case involving the […]

How the Legal Status of Abortion Impacts Abortion Rates

Michael J. New, Ph.D. | May 23, 2018

One argument frequently made by supporters of legal abortion is that the incidence of abortion is not affected by its legal status. As such, proponents of legal abortion maintain that legalizing abortion will not result in more abortions, but will instead improve the safety of abortions – ensuring they are done by trained medical professionals […]

Mississippi Launches Challenge to Roe v. Wade

Thomas M. Messner, J.D. | April 25, 2018

In March 2018 the Governor of Mississippi signed a law banning elective abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy and beyond. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states may not ban abortion before the unborn child reaches “viability”, i.e., before the child can potentially survive outside the womb, albeit with what the Court called […]

Louisiana Legislature Moves to Expand Adoption

Charles A. “Chuck” Donovan | April 10, 2018

On April 4, 2018, the Louisiana House of Representatives made significant progress in the promotion of adoption as an abortion alternative. The Louisiana House Education Committee and Health and Welfare Committee each advanced pro-adoption legislation to a full House session for debate on April 11, 2018. First, the Louisiana House Health and Welfare […]

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