Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-06-03187/USCOURTS-ca10-06-03187-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 950
Nature of Suit: Contitutionality of State Statutes
Cause of Action: 

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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

AID FOR WOMEN, on its own behalf;

TERI AUGUSTUS, L.M.S.W.;

MARGOT BRECKBILL, R.N.;

TRACY COWLES, M.D.; WILLOW

EBY, R.N.; VICKI EPP, L.B.S.W.;

MARGARET ESTRIN, M.D.;

HERBERT HODES, M.D.; TRACI

NAUSER, M.D.; COLLEEN

O'DONNEL, R.N.-C.; STACI

MORGAN, D.O.; BETH MCGILLEY,

Ph.D.; TRINA WHEELER, L.M.S.W.;

SHERMAN ZAREMSKI, M.D., on

behalf of themselves and their

adolescent patients and clients under

the age of sixteen and as

representatives of a class of similarly

situated individuals. 

 Plaintiffs - Appellees/

 Cross-Appellants,

 v. 

NOLA FOULSTON, in her official

capacity as District Attorney, 18th

Judicial District of Kansas, and as

representative of a class of all county

and district attorneys in the state of

Kansas,

and

PAUL MORRISON, Attorney General

for the State of Kansas,

 Defendants - Appellants/

 Cross-Appellees.

Nos. 06-3187, 06-3188 &

06-3202

(D.C. No 03-CV-1353-JTM)

(D. of Kansas)

Appellate Case: 06-3187 Document: 010136435 Date Filed: 09/20/2007 Page: 1
2

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THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF

FAMILY PHYSICIANS; AMERICAN

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION;

AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN'S

ASSOCIATION; AMERICAN

NURSES ASSOCIATION;

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR

ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY;

ASSOCIATION OF REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS;

KANSAS CHAPTER OF THE

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF

PEDIATRICS; KANSAS MEDICAL

SOCIETY; KANSAS PUBLIC

HEALTH ASSOCIATION; KANSAS

SECTION OF DISTRICT VII OF THE

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF

OBSTETRICIANS AND

GYNECOLOGISTS; KANSAS

STATE NURSING ASSOCIATION;

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

SOCIAL WORKERS; KANSAS

CHAPTER OF NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL

WORKERS, SOCIETY FOR

ADOLESCENT MEDICINE;

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES

UNION; AMERICAN CIVIL

LIBERTIES UNION OF KANSAS

AND WESTERN MISSOURI;

NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING

AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL

CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY

CENTER, NATIONAL LEGAL 

Appellate Case: 06-3187 Document: 010136435 Date Filed: 09/20/2007 Page: 2
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FOUNDATION and KANSAS

LEGISLATORS,

 Amici Curiae.

AMENDED ORDER

Filed September 20, 2007

Before KELLY, McCONNELL, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges.

These appeals are before the court based on a motion by Appellees-Plaintiffs

to dismiss, Appellant-Defendant’s response, and Appellees-Plaintiffs’ reply. On

April 18, 2006, the district court entered a separate order and judgment in favor of

Plaintiffs, partially enjoining the enforcement of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 38-1522, a child

abuse reporting statute, in any manner inconsistent with the district court’s

interpretation of that statute. See Aid for Women v. Foulston, 427 F.Supp.2d 1093,

1096, 1116 (D. Kan. 2006). These appeals followed.

Appellees-Plaintiffs presently seek dismissal of these appeals based on

mootness as a result of Kansas lawmakers repealing the reporting statute, § 38-1522,

challenged in their complaint and in these appeals. The statute was replaced with

a new reporting statute that became effective January 1, 2007. In response,

Appellant-Defendant states she does not object to dismissal of the appeals but

requests that such dismissal be based on lack of jurisdiction rather than mootness.

Appellate Case: 06-3187 Document: 010136435 Date Filed: 09/20/2007 Page: 3
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Upon review, the court finds that these appeals were rendered moot as a result

of the repeal of § 38-1522, and that dismissal based on mootness is appropriate. See

Sinochem International Co. v. Malaysia International Shipping Corp., ___ U.S. ___,

___, 127 S.Ct. 1184, 1188 (2007) (holding that federal court may dismiss an action

on the basis of a threshold non-merits issue without first determining whether it has

jurisdiction over case).

Accordingly, these appeals are DISMISSED as moot. The district court’s

April 18, 2006 Order and separate judgment are VACATED. This case is

REMANDED to district court with instructions to dismiss without prejudice. The

mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court,

Elisabeth A. Shumaker, Clerk

Kathleen T. Clifford

Attorney - Deputy Clerk

Appellate Case: 06-3187 Document: 010136435 Date Filed: 09/20/2007 Page: 4