Nevada high court to expedite anti-abortion initiative’s appeal

The Nevada Supreme Court has agreed to expedite an appeal from a group seeking to override state abortion statutes.

The Nevada Personhood Initiative's goal to have voters in November define a person as "everyone possessing a human genome" was shot down after Carson City District Judge James Russell late last year determined the language in the initiative was misleading, too vague and failed to stick to a single subject.

The group, led by conservative activist Richard Ziser, in its request to the Supreme Court said the appeal schedule had to be fast-tracked if it was to have any chance to gather enough signatures in time to be ballot eligible.

The Supreme Court granted the request on Thursday and ordered initiative backers and its opponents to file all briefs by April 2. No extensions will be granted.

The Supreme Court will review the briefs and then determine if oral arguments are warranted.

Proponents say the initiative is meant to protect the "inalienable right to life" and "the dignity of human life."

Opponents argue it infringes on a "woman's right to make personal health decisions" and "prevents doctors from treating life-threatening pregnancies, miscarriages and infertility."