Appeals Judge Frees Abortion Protester

A federal judge Friday set aside an order threatening leaders of a national anti-abortion group with arrest if they return to Wichita and freed a leader jailed for violating the order.

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver earlier in the day lifted a requirement that the Rev. Joe Slovenec of Cleveland post a security bond to be allowed to stay in Wichita.

“Justice has been served, I understand. I’m a free man. I’m allowed to stay in the city. That’s all I wanted,” Slovenec said.

Slovenec was jailed Oct. 4 when he returned to Wichita to speak at an anti-abortion rally.

Slovenec, a leader of the national group Operation Rescue, helped lead protests in Wichita over the summer that led to more than 2,600 arrests.

U.S. District Judge Patrick F. Kelly threatened in August to have Slovenec and his co-defendants in a protest-related civil lawsuit arrested if they returned to Wichita.

On Monday, Kelly gave Slovenec the option of leaving, signing a peace bond that would make him responsible for damages to abortion clinics if protests resume or going to jail. Slovenec chose jail.

The federal appeals court said Friday the challenge of the injunction would be held in abeyance until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a similar case. Operation Rescue lawyers will argue Bray vs. Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic before the high court Wednesday.