Colo. Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Description Of 'Personhood' Ballot Initiative

On Thursday, Denver District Court Judge Robert Hyatt dismissed an attempt by abortion-rights opponents to change the description of a "personhood" ballot initiative in a state voters' guide, the AP/Greeley Tribune reports. The ballot initiative, called Amendment 62, seeks to change the state constitution to say that rights of citizens are granted from the "beginning of biological development." If approved, the amendment would ban abortion services, as well as some forms of birth control and fertility treatments (Wyatt, AP/Greeley Tribune, 9/30).

In its lawsuit, Personhood Colorado claimed that the language used in the analysis of Amendment 62 was not "fair or impartial, but in fact generally biased against Amendment 62." (Marcus, Denver Daily, 10/1). In particular, the group objected to a statement that Amendment 62 could restrict access to "treatment for miscarriages."

Hyatt ruled that the courts do not have the jurisdiction to intervene in the state Legislature's production of the voters' guide, called the Blue Book. He added that voters had already received the guide and that issuing a press release -- as Personhood Colorado requested -- to note that the language was under review would have little practical effect (AP/Greeley Tribune, 9/30).

Personhood Colorado plans to appeal the decision. According to Denver Daily, since 1996, there have been five lawsuits in the Denver District Court to change the content of the Blue Book, all of which were dismissed (Denver Daily, 10/1).

Editorial Urges Voters To Reject Amendment

A Denver Post editorial encourages Coloradans to vote against Amendment 62 calling the measure a "retread of a nearly identical 'personhood' amendment that 73%of voters rejected two years ago." The editorial adds that although "reasonable people can disagree on the merits of abortion" and when life begins, Amendment 62's "attempt to end the established practices under Roe v. Wade would usher in far too many unintended consequences," such as outlawing certain contraceptives, restricting stem cell research and jeopardizing the legality of "potentially life-saving operations" for women with ectopic pregnancies (Denver Post, 10/1).


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