The Washington Post reported good news in Virginia this week. On Wednesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a state law banning partial birth abortion. In this gruesome procedure, the woman’s cervix is dilated and the baby is pulled out until only his or her head remains in the mother’s body, at which point, scissors are used to open the baby’s skull and brains are sucked out by a catheter. The collapsed skull is then easier to take out of the mother’s body.

This decision by the circuit court was sharply divided and passed only 6-5—overturning an earlier decision made by a panel of only three judges made in May 2008.

To the outrage of abortion advocates, the court ruled that, in concurrence with the existing 2003 Virginia state law; partial birth abortion (or “intact dilation and extraction”) cannot be used, even in cases to protect the life of the mother.

“This decision just really ignores that precedent,” said Stephanie Toti of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “It's really insulting to women's dignity that the court would put so little priority on protecting women's health and well-being.”

Its worth noting that in his 1967 writing The Case for Legalized Abortion Now, Alan Guttmacher, founder of Planned Parenthood’s research arm, the Guttmacher Institute said:

“Today it is possible for almost any patient to be brought through pregnancy alive, unless she suffers from a fatal illness such as cancer or leukemia, and, if so, abortion would be unlikely to prolong, much less save, life.”

That statement, made in 1967 is even more relevant today, as the advances in medical technology have all but completely eliminated the “need” for abortion to protect the life of the mother.

Concurring with the majority opinion of the case Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III wrote also that

"A partially born child is among the weakest, most helpless beings in our midst and on that account exerts a special claim on our protection."

On the other side, Judge M. Blane Michael wrote in the dissenting opinion that the partial birth abortion ban is unconstitutional because it would impose criminal liability (up to ten years in prison) on any doctor who “accidentally” performs the procedure—in other words, any abortionist that breaks the law.

Its time to stand up and applaud those in our judicial system who recognize the innocence and value of the weakest among us and want to protect the interests of the unborn over the interests of the abortionists who make a living off of ending lives.

Thank you, majority Judges of the 4th Circuit Court!