Legal News

Federal Judge Strikes Down Contraceptive Mandate with Terse Comments
Download PDF
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

Judge Brian Cogan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York struck down the contraception mandate of the President Obama’s signature Healthcare law. This by itself was not so interesting, as it was bound to happen in one or another court. But what really drew attention was the pointed logic of Cogan’s comment on the Healthcare law, and their flair.

For example, one comment that Cogan made in the 41-page decision is catchy enough to become a rallying slogan: “A law that is totally ineffective cannot serve a compelling interest.” Debates aside the comment is good enough to apply for a majority of obsolete laws.

  
What
Where


Cogan took the stance that according to 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb-1(b) that because plaintiffs have demonstrated a substantial burden on their religious beliefs, the Government bears the onus of demonstrating, that the Mandate “is the least restrictive means of furthering [a] compelling government interest.” During the course of the lawsuit, the question of using alternative means to ensure contraceptive services rather than using the mandate was considered. The government argued that the alternatives were infeasible, because it lacked statutory authority to enact some of those alternatives.

Cogan demolished that argument by saying, “It would set a dangerous precedent to hold that if the Executive Branch cannot act unilaterally, then there is no alternative solution. If defendants lack the required statutory authority, Congress may pass appropriate legislation.”

Such logic is again, applicable to all similar situations, and not only to the Healthcare law’s contraceptive mandate.

Get JD Journal in Your Mail

Subscribe to our FREE daily news alerts and get the latest updates on the most happening events in the legal, business, and celebrity world. You also get your daily dose of humor and entertainment!!




While rejecting the government’s arguments on the “compelling interest” for the mandate, Cogan observed: “Tens of millions of people are exempt from the Mandate, under exemptions for grandfathered health plans, small businesses, and “religious employers” like the Diocesan plaintiffs here. Millions of women thus will not receive contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing through the mandate. Having granted so many exemptions, the Government cannot show a compelling interest in denying one to these plaintiffs.”





 

RELEVANT JOBS

Associate Attorney

USA-PA-Exton

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY McKenna Snyder LLC, a law firm in Exton, PA has an immediate opening for an ex...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Sturgis

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Coldwater

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Insurance Defense Trial Attorney/ Senior Counsel

USA-CA-San Francisco

Job description Trial Attorney - Personal Injury Defense Full Job Description Hickey Smith ...

Apply now

BCG FEATURED JOB

Locations:

Keyword:



Search Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with ...

Apply Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-Carlsbad

Carlsbad office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with 4-...

Apply Now

Education Law and Public Entity Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law and public ent...

Apply Now

Most Popular

SEARCH IN ARCHIVE

To Top