Iowa Supreme Court won't reconsider abortion ruling
The Iowa Supreme Court denied abortion providers’ request Monday to reconsider its decision to uphold a law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy. The law could take effect as early as this week pending action by a lower court.
The Iowa Supreme Court has denied abortion providers' plea to reconsider its ruling on a six-week abortion prohibition.
Last month, the Court ruled 4-3 that the abortion prohibition is constitutional and that an injunction preventing its enforcement should be lifted. The law, which prohibits most abortions after cardiac activity is detected, has not yet taken effect as of Monday afternoon, as a lower court has not yet lifted the injunction. Abortion remains legal in Iowa up to approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy until that occurs.
The Iowa Supreme Court's decision on June 28 initiated a three-week window for the case to return to a lower court. However, this process was delayed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa's request for reconsideration.
On Monday, the Iowa Supreme Court denied this request and referred the case to the Polk County District Court, where Judge Jeffrey Farrell has been instructed to enforce the abortion prohibition. During a status conference on Friday, Judge Farrell stated his intention to provide abortion providers with a few days' notice before the ban is implemented, which could occur as soon as this week.
Last month, the Court ruled 4-3 that the abortion prohibition is constitutional and that an injunction preventing its enforcement should be lifted. The law, which prohibits most abortions after cardiac activity is detected, has not yet taken effect as of Monday afternoon, as a lower court has not yet lifted the injunction. Abortion remains legal in Iowa up to approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy until that occurs.
The Iowa Supreme Court's decision on June 28 initiated a three-week window for the case to return to a lower court. However, this process was delayed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa's request for reconsideration.
On Monday, the Iowa Supreme Court denied this request and referred the case to the Polk County District Court, where Judge Jeffrey Farrell has been instructed to enforce the abortion prohibition. During a status conference on Friday, Judge Farrell stated his intention to provide abortion providers with a few days' notice before the ban is implemented, which could occur as soon as this week.