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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 28 June 2022
ferred to as "zombie laws"
— apply now that there is
no federal protection for
abortion.
For instance, Wisconsin
passed a law in 1849 ban-
ning abortions except to
save the life of the mother.
Attorney General Josh Kaul,
a Democrat, said he does
not believe it is enforce-
able. Abortion opponents
have called on lawmakers
to impose a new ban.
In the meantime, Planned
Parenthood of Wisconsin
said it immediately sus-
pended all abortions.
In Michigan, Planned Par-
enthood challenged a
1931 abortion ban ahead
of last week's Supreme
Court ruling. In May, a
Continued from Front clearly allow for exceptions judge said the ban could
In Louisiana on Monday, a to protect the life or health not be enforced because
judge in New Orleans, a lib- of a pregnant woman. it violates the state's consti-
eral city in a conservative Now that the high court tution. Abortion rights sup-
state, temporarily blocked has ruled that the U.S. Con- porters are now trying to
enforcement of the state's stitution does not guaran- get a proposed state con-
trigger-law ban on abor- tee the right to an abortion, stitutional amendment on
tion, after abortion rights abortion rights supporters the ballot in November to
activists argued that it is un- will make the case that protect abortion and birth
clear. The ruling is in effect their state constitutions pro- control.
pending a July 8 hearing. tect such a right. Idaho, Oklahoma and Tex-
At least one of the state's A judge heard arguments as have adopted laws that
three abortion clinics said on that issue Monday in allow people to seek boun-
it would resume performing Florida, where attorneys ties against those who help
procedures on Tuesday. tried to block a new law others get abortions. It is an
"We're going to do what we from going into effect Fri- open question as to wheth-
can," said Kathaleen Pitt- day. The ban beyond 15 er that means people can
man, administrator of Hope weeks has exceptions to be pursued across state
Medical Group for Women, save the pregnant wom- lines, and legal challenges
in Shreveport. "It could all an's life or prevent physical over the issue are likely to
come to a screeching halt." harm or in cases where the come up in cases of both
Also Monday, abortion fetus has a fatal abnormal- surgical abortions and
rights advocates asked a ity. The ACLU of Florida ar- those involving medicine
Florida judge to block a A pregnant protester is pictured with a message on her shirt in gued the law violates the mailed to patients.
new law there that bans support of abortion rights during a march, Friday, June 24, 2022, Florida Constitution. The California Legislature,
the procedure after 15 in Seattle. James Bopp Jr., general controlled by Democrats,
weeks with some excep- Associated Press counsel for the National passed a bill Thursday to
tions and is set to take Right to Life Committee, shield abortion providers
effect this week. And a school. it bans an abortion prior to said the wave of suits from and volunteers in the state
hearing was scheduled for As of Saturday, abortion a fertilized egg implanting abortion rights advocates from civil judgments im-
Monday afternoon in Utah, services had stopped in at in the uterus. And while the is not surprising. "We know posed by other states. In
where Planned Parent- least 11 states — either be- law provides an exception that he abortion indus- liberal Massachusetts, Gov.
hood challenged a trigger cause of state laws or con- for "medically futile" preg- try has basically unlimited Charlie Baker, a Republi-
law there that contains nar- fusion over them. nancies in cases of fetuses funds, and its allies have can, signed an executive
row exceptions. In some cases, the lawsuits with lethal abnormalities, basically unlimited funds, order Friday that prohibits
The American Civil Liberties may only buy time. Even if the plaintiffs noted the law and of course they're fa- state agencies from assist-
Union of Arizona and an courts block some restric- gives no definition of the natical about abortion on ing other states' investiga-
abortion-rights group also tions from taking hold, law- term. demand throughout preg- tions into anyone who re-
filed an emergency motion makers in many conser- Around the country, chal- nancy," Bopp said in an in- ceives a legal abortion in
there on Saturday seeking vative states could move lenges to other trigger laws terview. Massachusetts.
to block a 2021 law they quickly to address any could be made on the But he said that that the Su- The challenge filed in Ari-
worry can be used to halt flaws cited. grounds that the conditions preme Court ruling should zona, where most providers
all abortions. That's likely to be the case to impose the bans have preclude abortion rights stopped offering abortions,
In striking down Roe, the in Louisiana. The plaintiffs not been met, or that it was supporters from prevailing said the legal questions are
Supreme Court left it to the in the lawsuit filed in state improper for a past legis- in any federal challeng- urgent. Even if abortions re-
states to decide whether to court don't deny that the lature to bind the current es. And he called efforts sume in weeks or months,
allow abortion. state can now ban abor- one. based on state constitu- the plaintiffs said, "patients
"The expectation is that this tion. Instead, they contend Laura Herner, a professor at tions "fanciful." may be at greater risk of
will result in years of legisla- Louisiana now has multiple, Mitchell Hamline School of Still other cases could be medical complications or
tive and judicial challeng- conflicting trigger mecha- Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, filed as states try to sort may lose access to abor-
es," said Jonathan Turley, nisms in the law. said other challenges might out whether abortion bans tion altogether as a result
a professor at the George They also argue that state call into question whether in place before Roe was of the delay."q
Washington University law law is unclear on whether state laws sufficiently and decided — sometimes re-