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Download Motion Case Nos. 19-2882, 19-3134 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH : SERVICES OF PLANNED : PARENTHOOD OF THE : On Appeal from the ST. LOUIS REGION, INC., : United States District Court for et al., : the Western District of Missouri : Plaintiffs-Appellees, : District Court Case No. : 2:19-cv-4155-HFS v. : : GOVERNOR MICHAEL L. : PARSON, et al., : : Defendants-Appellants. : : MOTION BY OHIO AND 21 OTHER STATES FOR LEAVE TO FILE BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF THE DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS DAVE YOST Ohio Attorney General BENJAMIN M. FLOWERS* Ohio Solicitor General *Counsel of Record DIANE R. BREY STEPHEN P. CARNEY Deputy Solicitors General 30 East Broad Street, 17th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-466-8980 [email protected] Counsel for State of Ohio (Additional counsel listed on signature block) Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE The States of Ohio, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Da- kota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia, move the Court for leave to file this amicus brief at the en banc merits stage. This motion is perhaps unnecessary, as States need not seek leave to file amici curiae briefs during either initial consideration of a case on the merits, F.R.A.P. 29(a)(2), or during consideration of whether to grant rehearing, F.R.A.P. 29(b)(2). But because the rules do not expressly permit amicus briefs at the en banc merits stage, the States respectfully move for leave. This case involves the power of States to protect vulnerable populations and the integrity of the medical profession. Thus, the States have a particular interest in the issue. In addition, several of the amici States have enacted laws similar to the challenged Missouri law regulating Down-syndrome-selective abortions. Ohio, in particular, successfully defended its law before the en banc Sixth Circuit, and the law has now been in effect for several months. Preterm-Cleveland v. McCloud, 994 F.3d 512 (6th Cir. 2021) (en banc). In sum, the amici States have a strong interest in, and relevant knowledge about, the question presented. 1 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 For these reasons, this Court should grant the States’ motion for leave. Counsel for the defendants-appellants have said that they do not object to this mo- tion. Counsel for the plaintiffs have declined to state whether they oppose the mo- tion. 2 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 3 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 Respectfully submitted, STEVE MARSHALL Alabama Attorney General DAVE YOST Ohio Attorney General TREG R. TAYLOR Alaska Attorney General /s/ Benjamin M. Flowers BENJAMIN M. FLOWERS* MARK BRNOVICH Ohio Solicitor General Arizona Attorney General *Counsel of Record DIANE R. BREY LESLIE RUTLEDGE STEPHEN P. CARNEY Arkansas Attorney General Deputy Solicitors General CHRISTOPHER M. CARR 30 East Broad Street, 17th Floor Georgia Attorney General Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-466-8980 LAWRENCE G. WASDEN [email protected] Idaho Attorney General WAYNE STENEHJEM THEODORE E. ROKITA North Dakota Attorney General Indiana Attorney General JOHN M. O’CONNOR DEREK SCHMIDT Oklahoma Attorney General Kansas Attorney General ALAN WILSON DANIEL CAMERON South Carolina Attorney General Kentucky Attorney General JASON RAVNSBORG JEFF LANDRY South Dakota Attorney General Louisiana Attorney General HERBERT H. SLATERY III LYNN FITCH Attorney General and Mississippi Attorney General Reporter of Tennessee AUSTIN KNUDSEN KEN PAXTON Montana Attorney General Texas Attorney General DOUGLAS J. PETERSON SEAN D. REYES Nebraska Attorney General Utah Attorney General PATRICK MORRISEY West Virginia Attorney General 3 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 4 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE I hereby certify, in accordance with Rule 32(g) of the Federal Rules of Appel- late Procedure, that this motion complies with the type-volume requirements and contains 253 words. See Fed. R. App. P. 27(d)(2)(A). /s/ Benjamin M. Flowers Benjamin M. Flowers Ohio Solicitor General 1 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 5 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 LOCAL RULE 28A(H)(2) STATEMENT This document was scanned for viruses before filing and is virus-free. /s/ Benjamin M. Flowers Benjamin M. Flowers Ohio Solicitor General 2 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 6 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on August 3, 2021, the foregoing was filed electronically. Notice of this filing will be sent to all parties for whom counsel has entered an ap- pearance by operation of the Court’s electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court’s system. /s/ Benjamin M. Flowers Benjamin M. Flowers Ohio Solicitor General 3 Appellate Case: 19-2882 Page: 7 Date Filed: 08/03/2021 Entry ID: 5061701 .
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