High Court Ruling Sends Abortion Clinics Scrambling To Adjust

Practice legal English vocabulary through the June 2014 Supreme Court decision to strike down a Massachusetts law that requires a buffer zone around abortion clinics. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this decision?

Write these verbs and check as you listen:

assure

begin

boost

bubble

buffer

bust

convince

cross
maneuver

demonstrate

educate

end

enter

explore

gain entry

go back  

go on

harass
intimidate

hold back

protect access

push

put it

raise voice

retrain

rework

say the least

scramble

seek

shout from

strike down

take away

walk straight up to

witness

worry

What are the synonyms?

• raise voice, shout
• protect, assure
• intimidate, harass
• gain entry, enter
• convince, demonstrate, educate
• buffer, bubble, protect
• cross, walk straight up to
• strike, end
• maneuver, push
• adjust, adapt
• boost, increase

What are the antonyms?

• begin, end
• assure, worry
• buffer, cross
• seek, take away
• strike, protect

Questions:

1. a line they cannot ______
2. My rights _____ where yours _____
3. Who strikes down the law?
4. What is the legal decision?
5. Who are the people and groups involved?
6. What is the conflict?
7. What kind of clinic?
8. Who enters the clinic?
9. Why does the clinic want a buffer zone?
10. Why do the activists not want a buffer zone?
11. What are the concerns?
12. How many feet is the line? = How big is the buffer zone?
13. What is a future legal option? 
14. What is an advantage of the decision?
15. What is a disadvantage of the decision?

Answers:

1. a line they cannot cross
2. My rights end where yours begin
3. Supreme Court 
4. The Supreme Court struck down a Massachusetts law that requires a buffer zone around clinics giving abortion services. The buffer zone is unconstitutional. Now anyone can walk up to the property line.
5. activists, patients, lawyers, antiabortion groups, abortion rights groups,
6. Activists shout at the people who enter and exit the building.
7. abortion clinic
8. patients, health staff
9. Health clinic wants to assure patient safety
10. Activists do not want to have to shout at a distance
11. intimidation, harassment, safety
12. 35 feet
13. patient escorts, a floating bubble around patients
14. less shouting required, maybe quieter
15. less safe for patients if activists are aggressive

Free response:

• How would you accommodate these competing rights for freedom of expression and safety?