WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden
WHAT: Available for media interviews after hearing in
Sherley v. Sebelius
WHEN: Monday, April 12, immediately following hearing, which begins at 9:30 a.m. EDT
WHERE: U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, 333 Constitution Ave. N.W., Washington
WASHINGTON &mdash ADF Senior Legal Counsel Steven H. Aden will be available for media interviews Monday following oral argument in the
federal lawsuit Sherley v. Sebelius at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The suit contends that the Obama administration’s embryonic stem cell research policy is in violation of a law which prohibits federal funds from being used to destroy human embryos for research purposes.
ADF is co-counsel in the case with Samuel Casey of Advocates International. Tom Hunger and Brad Lingo with the firm Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, LLC, will be arguing the case Monday.
“No one should be allowed to decide that an innocent life is worthless,” said Aden. “Innocent life should not be treated like a commodity. Although private-sector funding of embryonic stem cell research has been practically unlimited, it has failed to produce results. Furthermore, experimentation on embryonic stem cells isn’t even necessary because adult stem cell research has been enormously successful. In economic times like we are now, why should the federal government use precious taxpayer dollars for this illegal and unethical purpose?”
In Mar. 9, 2009, President Obama rescinded via executive order former President Bush’s executive order that limited federally funded embryonic stem cell research. Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, LLC, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the guidelines governing destructive embryonic stem cell research implemented by the Obama administration in July “were promulgated without observing the procedures required by law.” That law is known as the “Dickey/Wicker Amendment.”
On Oct. 27, 2009, a federal district court dismissed the lawsuit, which has now been appealed to the D.C. Circuit.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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