Chuck DarwinSupreme court issues three major decisions surrounding Purdue Pharma, the EPA and abortion
-- but I'd quiet on Trump immunity hours before debate
The supreme court on Thursday issued three major decisions on cases involving OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, an air pollution rule by the Environmental Protection Agency and abortion access in Idaho.
⭐️In a 5-4 decision, the conservative-majority court rejected #Purdue Pharma’s multi-billion dollar settlement that would have shielded the wealthy #Sackler family from future lawsuits over the country’s deadly #opioid epidemic, but would have also provided compensation and rehabilitation funds to victims.
In his opinion, conservative justice Neil Gorsuch wrote:
“The Sacklers seek greater relief than a bankruptcy discharge normally affords, for they hope to extinguish even claims for wrongful death and fraud, and they seek to do so without putting anything close to all their assets on the table.”
⭐️In a separate 5-4 decision, the court put on hold an attempt by the #EPA to reduce air pollution from power plants in “upwind” states that would affect air quality in “#downwind” states. Along with industry allies, Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana have been challenging the EPA’s rule.
Conservative justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the court’s three liberal justices, in dissent, wrote that the court “justifies this decision based on an alleged procedural error that likely had no impact on the plan.”
⭐️Meanwhile, in a victory for reproductive rights activists, the court dismissed a case over whether #emergency room doctors can perform #abortions to so save a pregnant woman’s life.
The court’s 6-3 decision marks a win for the Joe Bidenadministration, for now, as the case is returned to a lower court and potentially delays a final decision until after the election. Idaho had tried to have the procedure exempted from the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
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