Kelly Ayotte had already made New Hampshire history by becoming the state's first female attorney general. This year, she made more history by becoming the first New Hampshire AG to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Going before the nation's highest court is a daunting task in itself. The case, known as Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of New England, was even more contentious because it dealt with New Hampshire's parental notification law, the first restriction of abortion in the state since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1972. The case made national headlines for being the first abortion case to come before the Court under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts.
With New Hampshire taking center stage in the debate over abortion, it's no surprise Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood is a 2005 Newsmaker of the Year.
NHPR Stories
Web Resources:
NHPR Web Extra: Oral Arguments Before US Supreme Court of Ayotte vs. Planned Parenthood of N. New England
State's Brief (PDF)
Planned Parenthood's Brief (PDF)
Photo: Duncan Lock, Wikipedia
More Newsmakers of the Year 2005
