Court Temporarily Restrains Anti-Abortionist Groups

An Orange County Superior Court commissioner temporarily restrained two anti-abortion groups and 15 supporters Tuesday from physically obstructing or touching patients and others who enter the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Santa Ana.

Commissioner Greer Stroud said the limited order, which does not prohibit the picketing, would be in effect until a Feb. 14 hearing on a preliminary injunction.

The Eagle’s Nest Christian Fellowship, the Life Center and the individuals named in the lawsuit have been picketing the health center, primarily on Saturdays, for the last 11 months.

The center, a family health and planning clinic, schedules abortions on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The suit, filed Jan. 22, claims that pickets have been leafleting, carrying placards and yelling such phrases as “murderer” and “Do you have an appointment to commit murder?” at doctors, staff members, volunteers and patients who enter the center.

At the same time, the suit also claims, pickets are standing and walking in front of people, standing in front of or behind their cars and touching people in an effort to dissuade them from entering the center.

Sworn statements by business owners around the center, which is located at 406 S. Main St., contend pickets are haranguing and harassing their customers as well, following them to their cars and forcing anti-abortion literature on them.

David L. Llewellyn Jr., an attorney for the defendants, claimed that any restraining order or injunction would violate the rights of free speech.