Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments In Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Case

The U.S. Supreme Court this morning heard oral arguments in McCullen v. Coakley, a case challenging on free speech grounds a Massachusetts law creating a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics to shield women entering the clinics from abortion opponents.  The law allows only clinic employees acting within the scope of their employment to be on sidewalks within the buffer zone. The full transcript of the oral arguments is now available. SCOTUSblog has a recap of the arguments, as well as well as a case page with links to all the briefs, the lower court opinion and other information.