Idaho

Female Supreme Court justices push back most strongly on Idaho abortion ban

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

Female Supreme Court justices push back most strongly on Idaho abortion ban

A divided Supreme Court seemed skeptical that Idaho’s strict abortion ban conflicts with a federal emergency care law, but there appeared to be a split by gender as well as ideology during the nearly two hours of argument.

The four female justices, including conservative Amy Coney Barrett, pushed back the hardest against Idaho’s assertion that its law, which prohibits doctors from performing an abortion except when a woman’s life is in danger, supersedes the federal emergency care statute EMTALA.

Doctors face up to five years in prison for violating Idaho’s law.

The liberal justices in particular asked detailed questions about what would constitute a medical emergency, zeroing in on complications that would rob a woman of her reproductive organs or put her at risk of sepsis.

The case centers on a federal law known as EMTALA, or the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which requires federally funded hospitals to provide stabilizing care to emergency room patients no matter their ability to pay.

The Biden administration argues that even in states where abortion is banned, EMTALA says hospitals must be allowed to terminate pregnancies in rare emergencies where a patient’s life or health is at serious risk.

Barrett had sharp questions for Idaho’s attorney Joshua Turner over just how much discretion doctors really have to make decisions in medical emergencies that may not be life threatening.

Turner argued that the laws allows decisions to be made on a case-by-case basis, but Barrett was critical of that argument and accused Turner of “hedging.”

Barrett’s questioning doesn’t always give an indication of how she will vote, and the three liberal justices need at least two conservatives to side with them in order for the Biden administration to win the case.

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Idaho

Local school administrator named Idaho’s Superintendent of the Year – East Idaho News

Published

3 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Local school administrator named Idaho’s Superintendent of the Year – East Idaho News

REXBURG — A local school administrator has been named Idaho Superintendent of the Year for 2026, recognizing his work at Madison School District.

According to a news release from the Idaho Association of School Administrators, Randy B. Lords Jr., the superintendent of Madison School District 321, was selected to represent Idaho as a nominee for the National Superintendent of the Year award.

He became superintendent for the district in 2021, where he has focused on improving academics through new programs and fostering the well-being of students and staff.

Lords was chosen, according to the release, due to his work on three main points:

His support for career and technical education programs for students and for the use of an artificial intelligence-literacy program.
His work on fiscal responsibility, with a focus on the district’s future growth and maintenance of its facilities.
His work to improve parent and community involvement with the school district.

The ISAS executive director highlighted in the release Lords’ work to navigate the intricacies of leadership and improve the district’s academics.

“This recognition deeply humbles me, but this award belongs to the incredible faculty, staff and students of Madison School District,” Lords stated in the release. “Our success is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our community. I am honored to serve our families and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure every student has a world of opportunities at their fingertips.”