March (Web-only) 2004

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Supreme Court was set to overturn Roe v. Wade in 1992's Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Private notes just released from the late Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun show that the Supreme Court was ready to overturnRoe v. Wade in 1992's Planned Parenthood v. Casey case. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist was set to write a five-justice majority opinion, along with Byron White, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Anthony M. Kennedy.

It was Kennedy who jumped ship, joining with David Souter and Sandra Day O'Connor on a compromise measure, which reaffirmed the right to abortion but revoked Roe v. Wade's calling that right "fundamental." In the final Casey decision, the court ruled that states can put limits on abortion, such as requiring women's "informed consent" and parental notification for minors.

"I need to see you as soon as you have a few free moments," Kennedy wrote in a note to Blackmun, who wrote the Roe decision. "I want to tell you about a new development in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and at least part of what I say should come as welcome news."

Well, not welcome news, of course, for the more than 44 million killed since Roe. But this development may energize those who believe Roe can't be overturned. (The National Right to Life Committee has some commentary on the Blackmun papers and their media coverage.)

KOCE: We won't sell to Christian broadcaster, even if it's the high bidder
KOCE, a public television station in Huntington Beach, California, was sold to a local foundation. But it sure looks like the actual high bidder was the Christian Daystar Television Network, based in Texas..

KOCE officials earlier claimed that they followed the law, which required a sale to the "highest responsible bidder," suggesting that ...