Florida Supreme Court will hear challenge to 15-week abortion ban

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit challenging the state’s 15-week abortion ban, which was passed in July last year, almost immediately after Roe v Wade was reversed, the Washington Examiner reports. In the meantime, the law remains effective; the high court did not impose a temporary injunction to block it pending review.

Florida’s new abortion legislation was signed into law last year; it prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for the life of the mother or for fatal fetal abnormalities, but with no exceptions for rape or incest. Health providers who break the law face up to five years in prison.

The case to be heard by Florida’s Supreme Court was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and other abortion providers, the Examiner reports.
The case reached the high court after the 1st District Court of Appeal revoked a temporary injunction placed on the legislation by Leon County Circuit Court, which had held the law violates Florida’s constitution.

In a statement, ACLU attorney Whitney White said: “While we are pleased that the court didn’t shut its doors completely, we are dismayed that it has allowed this dangerous ban to remain in effect and to harm real people each and every day until this case is finally decided. We hope that the court acts quickly and follows 40 years of precedent and the will of the people to stop this unconstitutional 15-week abortion ban, which has caused chaos and devastation in the state since going into effect in July.”

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