Lawmakers Thank AG for Appeal on Abortion Ruling

OKLAHOMA CITY – A group of Republican representatives on Monday sent a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter requesting he appeal the ruling of Judge Charles Goodwin, from the United States Sixth District, that grants abortion providers in Oklahoma a restraining order blocking Gov. Kevin Stitt’s temporary ban on abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are respectfully and prayerfully requesting that you appeal the ruling to resume abortions here in Oklahoma,” the lawmakers wrote.  “In addition, we also respectfully request that you issue an emergency stay from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to stop the abortion clinics from reopening.”

The representatives received a response from the AG’s office saying he plans to immediately appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit.  This is his public statement regarding the appeal:

“I am very disappointed by the court’s judicial override of Oklahoma’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic instead of deferring to the state’s duly elected officials’ discernment. Carving out abortion from the state’s comprehensive efforts to flatten the curve creates a horrible precedent that may encourage a flood of other judicially conjured exceptions, completely undermining the state’s ability to combat the worst public health crisis in Oklahoma history. We all are making adjustments to help save thousands of lives—abortion providers should be no different. The state is not required to prioritize ending human life in utero over saving human lives, and certainly nothing in the Constitution says so.”

Legislators expressed their gratitude for the attorney general’s quick response to this ruling and for his stance on the side of saving every life. In addition, the lawmakers are grateful to Gov. Stitt for clarifying that abortion clinics are not-essential and for his stance on saving all lives through this crisis.

Joining in the call for appeal are Speaker of the House Charles McCall, Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright (R-Weatherford and Reps. Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon), Jeff Boatman (R-Tulsa), Brad Boles (R-Marlow), Chad Caldwell (R-Enid), Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton), Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle), Denise Crosswhite Hader (R-Piedmont), Sheila Dills (R-Tulsa), Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City), Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee), Ross Ford (R-Broken Arrow), Tom Gann (R-Inola), Jim Grego (R-Wilburton), Tommy Hardin (R-Madill), Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow), Brian Hill (R-Mustang), Justin Humphrey (R-Lane), Ronny Johns (R-Ada), Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City), Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee), Lundy Kiger (R-Poteau), Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa), Mark Lepak (R-Claremore), Robert Manger (R-Oklahoma City), T.J. Marti (R-Broken Arrow), Stan May (R-Broken Arrow), Mark McBride (R-Moore), Kevin McDugle (R-Broken Arrow), Nicole Miller (R-Edmond), Garry Mize (R-Guthrie), Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia), Carl Newton (R-Cherokee), Jadine Nollan (R-Sand Springs), Jim Olsen (R-Roland), Mike Osburn (R-Edmond), Kenton Patzkowsky (R-Balko), Randy Randleman (R-Eufaula), Dustin Roberts (R-Durant), Sean Roberts (R-Hominy), Cynthia Roe (R-Lindsay), Todd Russ (R-Cordell), Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher), Lonnie Sims (R-Jenks), David Smith (R-Arpelar), Chris Sneed (R-Fort Gibson), Marilyn Stark (R-Bethany), Jay Steagall (R-Yukon), Danny Sterling (R-Tecumseh), Johnny Tadlock (R-Idabel), John Talley (R-Stillwater), Zack Taylor (R-Seminole), Tammy Townley (R-Ardmore), Mark Vancuren (R-Owasso), Josh West (R-Grove), Kevin West (R-Moore), Tammy West (R-Oklahoma City) and Rande Worthen (R-Lawton).