UPDATE: Restraining order was denied.
In a hearing this morning before the King Co. Superior Court, a physician in WA State, Dr. Julie Komarow, MD is seeking to silence a pro-life blogger/journalist at Abortion in Wasington (AIW) who first revealed her past work as an abortionist. Terra Mork has posted the background:
In September 2009, the blog Abortion in Washington, reported on the employment history of Dr. Julie Komarow, MD. According to the AIW investigation, Komarow had moonlighted for years at Cedar River Clinics, Washington’s notorious late-term abortion chain. Cedar River provides abortions up to 26 weeks (LMP) using a the D&E procedure in which the preborn child is torn apart and removed, piece by piece, from the mother’s womb.
Fortunately, Komarow has since left Cedar River, and works out of Sound Family Medicine of Bonney Lake, providing “family medicine, with a special emphasis on obstetrics and preventive care.” Her professional bio makes no mention of her history at Cedar River or other abortion clinics.
I applaud Komarow’s decision to quit the horrifying late-term abortion industry. Many doctors and medical workers have done the same, shedding light on the abortion industry, and offering powerful testimonies of redemption. But in this case, there is no evidence that Komarow shares in this desire to walk in the light. To the contrary, she is now pursuing legal action that would not only block inquiry into her past, but would also interfere with the free speech rights of pro-life bloggers.
In a hearing before the King County Superior Court scheduled for December 27th, 2010, Komarow will seek to renew and expand a restraining order against the AIW reporter who first broke the news in 2009. Komarow first obtained the one-year restraining order against the reporter (who wishes to use the pen-name “John Hubert”), in 2009, complaining of “unlawful harassment”.
Komarow’s statement to the court reveals typical journalistic persistence from Hubert, but no verbal or physical threats of any kind. The judge awarded Komarow’s request and issued the restraining order against Hubert, barring him from asking any further questions of her via e-mail, phone, or through a third-party. These restrictions were honored by the Hubert, but in Komarow’s latest request for another restraining order, she makes a new demand that, if granted, would set a dangerous precedent threatening the free speech of any blog or media outlet.
Komarow requests that the court prohibit Hubert from even mentioning her name in any blog, article, or website. As an example to the court, Komarow attached a copy of a recent AIW article to her statement, which briefly makes mention of her name. It is interesting to note that the reporter who posted the article isn’t even Hubert, but another AIW reporter.
Terra asks, "if Komarow is prepared to take restraining orders out against all bloggers who use her name in association with the abortion industry"? If so, she'll have to add us to her list.
Please.. Please Don't Kill Me Ma..
Posted by: Joju | January 17, 2011 at 07:07 PM