Victory: Shackling Pregnant Prisoners in Labor Found to be Cruel!
October 05, 2009
On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit (the federal level appellate court that reviews decisions from federal district courts in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, and Arkansas) issued the long-awaited decision in Nelson v. Norris.
A U.S. District Court Judge in Maine held a sentencing hearing for an HIV positive, pregnant woman from Cameroon and released her on time served. You may recall that earlier this summer Judge Woodcock sentenced her to 238 days, stating this sentence was calculated specifically to ensure that she remained incarcerated for the duration of her pregnancy, rather than time served as recommend by Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the U.S. Attorney and the defense attorney.
Download file
United States v. "Ms. T"
June 15, 2009
US District Court of Maine
Amicus Curiae Brief of Medical, Public Health, and HIV Experts and Advocates in Support of Bail Pending Appeal Or, In the Alternative, Re-Sentencing
According to Personhood USA, legislators in at least five states are sponsoring bills that would give the unborn full state constitutional rights from the moment of fertilization.
Post a comment in the St. Louis Dispatch
August 29, 2008
The St. Louis Dispatch ran an article put out by the Associated Press regarding the 8th Circuit's grant of rehearing in Nelson v. Norris, the case where Shawanna Nelson was shackled during her labor and delivery.
August 05, 2008
US Court of Appeals for 8th Circuit
Brief of Amici Curiae
To answer this and related questions National Advocates for Pregnant Women and more than 60 organizational and individual co-sponsors are holding the National Summit to Ensure the Health and Humanity of Pregnant and Birthing Women, January 18- Sunday, January 21, 2007 at the Hilton Airport Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.
There are over twenty plenaries and workshops at the Summit addressing the question of how we do or do not value pregnant women and mothers.
The Work Life Law Program at UC Hastings College of the Law has an excellent report addressing the problem working mothers face when a child is sick at home. For this excellent report, One Sick Child Away From Being Fired: When "Opting Out" Is Not An Option, by Professor Joan C. Williams please go to:
Download file
