|
Cleveland Lawyers For Life
Present: Paul Schenck, MEV
"My Journey From Streetcorner
to the U.S. Supreme Court"
Dr. Paul Chaim Benedicta Schenck
became involved in the legal issues of the pro-life
movement after sidewalk counseling in front of an
abortion clinic in New York. The operators sued Dr.
Schenck to prevent him and others from speaking to
customers in front of the clinic. A district court,
issued an injunction creating fixed buffer zones
prohibiting counselor within 15 feet of "clinic" doors
or driveways. The court also created floating buffer
zones prohibiting them from coming within 15 feet of
people or vehicles seeking access to clinics. The ruling
was challenged on First Amendment grounds, but was
upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Dr.
Schenck appealed to the United States Supreme Court,
which reversed in part and affirmed in part. See 519
U.S. 357 (1997).
Dr. Schenck shared the lessons
learned from this experience as well as what
subsequently led him to found the Pro Life Action Center
in Washington D.C. (www.nplac.org),
whose mission is to give lawyers, judges, and policy
makers the information they need to form consciences and
make better decisions. Dr. Schenck is also a pastoral
associate with the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life,
is married with nine children, is a twin, and lives in
York, Pennsylvania.
|
