Kopp Denied Dismissal

Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara rejected all of the defense motions to dismiss a federal case against convicted murderer James Kopp. Kopp was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a 25-year-to-life state sentence for the 1998 shooting of an abortion provider. He faces a life term if he is found guilty of violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act in the shooting.

Preparing his own defense, Kopp argued that this latest case should be dismissed because the shooting did not take place in a clinic entrance. Kopp admitted to fatally shooting Dr. Barnett Slepian and had planned to argue that the shooting was justified because it was intended to save the lives of the unborn. Arcara determined Kopp cannot use this defense since his actions attempted to prevent legal behavior. Kopp is also barred from including abortion related photographs or discussion of his anti-choice views in his defense.