9th Circuit
About the 9th Circuit
The 9th Circuit covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. It has twenty-eight seats, one of which is vacant.
Reproductive Rights in the 9th Circuit
Grade: B+
The states in the 9th Circuit receive an average grade of B+ regarding reproductive rights. Laws passed in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington reflect a mixed legislative record on reproductive rights issues. Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, and Washington receive some of the highest marks in the nation for protecting choice, while other states on this circuit have enacted legislation severely restricting reproductive freedom. Although courts have struck down some onerous restrictions in these states, many remain on the books. It will be up to the judges who sit on the 9th Circuit Court to uphold or deny a woman's reproductive rights in the face of these challenging legislative obstacles.
Pending Nominees to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Acknowledgment:
NCJW thanks the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation for the use of data contained in the "2008 Report Card on Women's Reproductive Rights" included in Who Decides? The Status of Women's Reproductive Rights in the United States, 17th edition, 2008. In this publication, NARAL Pro-Choice America assigned each state and the District of Columbia a letter grade based on the nature of reproductive rights laws in 20 categories. These grades were averaged to offer a general overview of the status of reproductive rights in each circuit.