SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft’s request for an appeal of a May ruling that upheld Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law has been rejected. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision Wednesday—in a release Monday, they said that a majority of 25 judges had voted against holding an appeal. In May, Attorney General John Ashcroft had challenged Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law, arguing that the prescribing of lethal medications by doctors was in contravention of the federal Controlled Substances Act. Two of three state judges disagreed, arguing that the regulation of medical practice is outside the jurisdiction of the federal government. The Justice Department requested a new decision, because there were only three judges that decided the case—they requested at minimum a full panel of 11 judges revisit the hearing. Like his stand on abortion, Presidential candidate John Kerry says he is “personally opposed” to euthanasia but will not oppose Oregon’s law. Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Dept of Justice Appeals Oregon Assisted Suicide Ruling http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04072003.html Kerry “Personally Opposed” to Assisted Suicide But Will Not Oppose Oregon Euthanasia Law http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/may/04051903.html tv