Document: 518 U.S. 137116 S.Ct. 2068135 L.Ed.2d 443 MICHAEL O. LEAVITT, GOVERNOR OF UTAH, et al.,v.JANE L. al.On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court Appeals Tenth Circuit No. 95-1242. Decided June 17, 1996 Per Curiam. 1 The State Utah seeks review a ruling by which declared invalid provision law regulating abortions "[a]fter 20 weeks gestational age." Code Ann. Section(s) 76-7-302(3) (1995). court made that declaration, not on ground violates federal law, but rather was severable from another same statute, purporting regulate up weeks' age, had been struck down as unconstitutional. court's severability based its view Legislature would have wanted later-term unless it could earlier-term well. Whatever validity such speculation general matter, in present case is flatly contradicted very part at issue, explicitly stating each statutory be regarded having enacted independently others. Because we regard Appeals' determination Legislature's intent irreconcilable with body's own statement subject, grant petition certiorari this aspect judgment Appeals, and summarily reverse. 2 amended legislation 1991, establishes two regimes regulation abortion, term pregnancy. With respect pregnancies old or less, 302(2) permits only under five enumerated circumstances, 76-7-302(2) more than weeks, 302(3) three circumstances specified 302(2). 76-7-302(3).1 In suit declaratory injunctive relief, District held unconstitutional, both constitutional - i.e., enforceable despite invalidation other provision. Jane v. Bangerter, 809 F. Supp. 865, 870 (1992). Upon appeal plaintiffs latter provision, enforced, regardless constitutionality, because invalidated portion law. 61 3d 1493, 1499 argues conclusion simply unsustainable light express indication contrary, agree. 3 Severability course matter state Utah, acknowledged, "is determined first foremost answering following question: Would legislature passed statute without unconstitutional section?" Id., 1497 (citing Stewart Public Service Comm'n, 885 P. 2d 759, 779 (Utah 1994)). A abortion Code, these sections were added, answers question. Section 317 provides: 4 "If any one section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase word application thereof person circumstance found hereby balance shall remain effective notwithstanding unconstitutionality. declares part, thereof, irrespective fact phrase, unconstitutional." 76-7-317 (1995) (emphasis added). 5 face enacting regulations nonetheless concluded did intend them so. opinion explicit language determinative even use point departure addressing It understood instructing courts "subordinate clauses, evince legislature's regarding structure overarching substantive intentions." 3d, divined 1991 amendments "substantive intent" prohibit virtually all abortions, see id., 1497-1498, went conclude since, view, severing frustrate purpose, provisions stand fall together, 1499. We believe erred steps progression. 6 dichotomy between "structural" "substantive" intents nowhere cases cited authority Appeals. Indeed, none those speaks terms "conflicts among legislative intentions," 1498. do support proposition that, "even where savings clause exist[s], are interrelated, within scope th[e] function select valid portions act conjecture they should invalid." Salt Lake City, 445 691, 696 1968). See also City International Assn. Firefighters, 563 786, 791 1977); Carter Beaver County Area One, 399 440, 441 1965). But concerns absent case, reasons. First, there no need resort "conjecture": laws include merely standard "savings" clearer message "would [every law] . 76-7-317.2 And secondly, issue here "interrelated" relevant sense being so interdependent remainder cannot effectively compromise, extracted exchange inclusion statute.3 Nothing like appears here. described "modif[ying]" 302(2), "[w]ith nullification ban section statue gutted, left purposeless an modify." examination makes apparent, n. 1, supra, possibly said "modify" adjunct it, adjective "modifies" noun. Rather, can altering disposition permitting, post-20-week some justifications allowed (for abortions) impossible how lead "purposeless" when inoperative. Of does incorporate reference permissible set forth instead repeating verbatim, drafting device hardly thought establish "interdependence" becomes unenforceable. To sets out straightforward self-operative fashion may performed 7 if correct treating ordinary clause; right believing existed "interrelationship" permit disregarded; invented notion "structural-substantive" dichotomy; reasoning forgo obtain total flawed. reasoned "to occur during pregnancy, except few circumstances," 1497, "operated unified expression [that] intent," ibid., separate unconstitutionality former "clearly undermin[e] purpose most abortions," 1498.4 8 This mode analysis, carried every operate defeat claim severability. Every adopts, single enactment, plus B intends (A+B); reads (A+B), invariably "unified taking away leaving B, will undermine purpose" enact (A+B). fallacy applying question take (A+B) thus foil intent; (in unconstitutionality) occurs whether severed. question, words, prefer reason choice longer available. Here, effect yes. bent banning almost prefer, desire, some. is, least, questionable considered isolation. put forward text states opposite, plainly error. 9 * 10 aside unsupportable judgments involving individual claims, see, e.g., Board Ed. Rogers McCluskey, 458 U. S. 966, 969-971 (1982); National Bank North America Associates Obstetrics & Female Surgery, Inc., 425 460, 460-461 (1976). Much appropriate what state-wide Idaho Dept. Employment Smith, 434 100, 100-102 (1977). sure, normally petitions solely purports law; done so, Steele General Mills, 329 433, 438, 440-441 (1947); Wichita Royalty Co. Falls, 306 103, 107 (1939),5 undoubtedly alternative allowing blatant federal-court dissent "[t]he doctrine judicial restraint" weighs against review, post, 2, odd restraint compel us cast blind eye overreaching lower courts. observed dissent, "underlying case" controversial one, generating "a kind `hydraulic pressure' motivates ad hoc decision-making," 1-2, provides greater, lesser, justification reversing state-law determinations seem wrong. our considerations combine make "extraordinary cas[e]" worth effort summary 3. 11 Finally, dissent's supposed greater expertise appeals particularly weak (if indeed counter-indicative) panel consisting judges Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas has reversed If, said, circuit owe deference district adjudications Salve Regina College Russell, 499 225, 239-240 (1991), surely basis panels "better qualified" pass questions, 1. Our presumption correctly decide questions reflects utility reviewing cases, College, 235, 3, belief natural advantage domain, cf. Brockett Spokane Arcades, 472 491, 500 (1985) ("[W]e differ meaning statute"); Cole Richardson, 405 676, 683-685 (1972). That obviously inapplicable appeals' wrong, contest case. 12 sustainable. Accordingly, reverse judgment, remand further proceedings. 13 ordered. 14 Justice Stevens, whom Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer join, dissenting. 15 discussed Court's per curiam purely contrary settled practice sole deciding ruled upon appeals. well established: familiar better qualified interpret their Circuits; decision (even Court) binding tribunals; appeals, national significance typical predicate exercise jurisdiction.* 16 underlying generates Holmes once "hydraulic pressure" decisionmaking. Northern Securities States, 193 197, 401 (1904) (dissenting opinion). Even rendered incorrect decision, jettison traditional guides review. counsels opposite course. 17 majority counters pair supposedly show absence questions. One Nat. 103 (1939) diversity decided wake Erie R. Tompkins, 304 64 (1938). Just four before handed Erie, disclaimed obligation follow controlling Texas Supreme (indeed, earlier stage proceedings) commercial S., 106. then denied rehearing theory changed mind now agreed former's Ibid. hear resulted rejection conclusion, motivated concern give Erie's new mandate. 18 leaves example 433 (1947), granted "undermine[d] transportation policy Texas." 438. nearly 50 years ago successor, exception proves rule. 19 However irregular grants past, unheard-of. 1980 codified already longstanding eliminating consideration important territorial way conflict applicable law." Compare Rule 19(1)(b) (1970) 17.1 (1980). deletion entire category intended communicate errors sound granting certiorari, extraordinary cases. Tellingly, cite past departed reemphasized practice. first. I respectfully petition. state: "(2) An circumstances: "(a) professional pregnant woman's attending physician, necessary save life; "(b) pregnancy result rape child reported enforcement agency prior abortion; "(c) incest incident "(d) prevent grave damage medical health; "(e) birth born defects. "(3) After measured date conception, purposes Subsections (2)(a), (d), (e)." 76-7-302 relied sort. 786 (1977), 440 (1965), clauses declared: act, circumstance, invalid, affected thereby." 1975 Laws, ch. 102, 10; 1961 34, (1968), treated municipal ordinance different Carter, relied. 2d, ("The [invalidated] integral act. concept arbitration wholly act"); 441-442 ("[T]he separability ineffective, dependency remaining inoperative") (emphases adverted (1995), interpreted "making specifically 302." (CA10 1995). 317.2 nothing provides, simply, "[i]f Senate Bill 23, Annual Session, ever Court, 76-7-302, Chapter 33, Laws 1974, reenacted immediately effective." speak severability, consequence invalidation, presumably invalidation. (For alone triggered 317.2, 302 replaced preexisting, 1974 version. decree 302(1) inoperative, nor respondents seek result.) Respondents defend below 317.2. says "was [the] mandate" (1938), apply Post, 2. remains however, "the decision" interpretation As prompted Texas, " wrong importance" justify Circuit's "undermin[ing] [abortion] [Utah]" presents equally attention. If last sort, indicates since faced equivalently clear misinterpretation equivalent significance. finds "counter-indicative" Ante, 8. questions; matters de novo. 235-240 (1991) (rejecting reliance "local expertise" Court). geography Circuit, ante, 8-9, utterly irrelevant.

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