Suit Challenges NH Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone

Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio

npr.org

A conservative Christian law group has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to strike down New Hampshire's 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics.

Alliance Defending Freedom announced Tuesday that it filed the suit on behalf of several abortion opponents. The suit says New Hampshire’s buffer zone signed into law this year violates the free speech rights of abortion protesters.

ADF filed the Massachusetts lawsuit that led to last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down that state's buffer zone.

The lawsuit filed Monday says the law unfairly allows clinic escorts, but not protesters, to talk to women within the buffer zone.

Abortion rights supporters say the buffers are needed to protect women and clinic workers from harassment.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn