US Supreme Court Rejects Oklahoma Personhood Appeal

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that a proposed "personhood" constitutional amendment would be an unconstitutional ban on abortion.

The court on Monday rejected the appeal without comment.

Mathew Staver of the Florida-based Liberty Counsel — which filed the appeal on behalf of Personhood Oklahoma — says supporters may try again to get it on the ballot.

The proposal would grant fertilized human embryos the rights and privileges of citizens in Oklahoma. Supporters say it's part of an effort to have the U.S. Supreme Court review a ruling that legalized abortion.

It was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of several Oklahoma doctors and residents.

The state Supreme Court called the measure "clearly unconstitutional."

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.