Federal appeals court ruling undermines abortion clinic escorts

Meanwhile, NPR reports on how an abortion rights organization finds the GOP presidential field lacking when it comes to candidates and their positions regarding abortion rights.

San Francisco Chronicle: Ruling May Weaken Escort Roles At Abortion Clinics
A federal appeals court cast a cloud Thursday over measures in Oakland and other cities intended to protect women entering abortion clinics by requiring antiabortion "counselors" to keep their distance while volunteer escorts shield the women and walk them into the building. In a suit by an antiabortion pastor who was arrested outside an Oakland clinic, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said a city can require a protester to obtain the patient's permission to approach her or talk to her - but must also apply that requirement to the escort (Egelko, 7/29). 

NPR: Abortion-Rights Group Faults Republican Presidential Field
OK, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. But the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America says that none of the declared Republican candidates for president — nor any of those thought to be waiting in the wings — would pass muster with voters who support a woman's right to choose (Rovner, 7/28).