Ohio judge strikes down parts of state’s 6-week abortion ban

According to the ACLU of Ohio, this is the first ruling on the merits of a ballot measure that amended the Ohio constitution to establish “an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion.” Much of the ban was rendered unconstitutional after the amendment went into effect in December 2023, Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost, said earlier this year. “This is a historic victory for abortion patients and for all Ohio voters who voiced support for the constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy,” Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Ohio. “It’s clear that the newly amended Ohio Constitution works as the voters intend: to protect the fundamental right to abortion and to forbid the state from infringing on it except when necessary to protect the health of a pregnant person.” Supporters of Ohio Issue 1 cheer as results come in at a watch party hosted by Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights on Nov. 7, 2023 in Columbus. Andrew Spear/Getty Images In a statement, Bethany McCorkle, the attorney general’s communications director, said the office would be appealing the ruling. “We have heard the voices of the people and recognize that reproductive rights are now protected in our Constitution,” McCorkle’s statement read. “However, we respectfully disagree with the court’s decision that requiring doctors to obtain informed consent and wait 24 hours prior to an abortion constitute a burden. Abortions are now banned at 22 weeks’ gestation or later, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that studies sexual and reproductive rights. However, lawmakers have tried to maintain other parts of the ban, including reporting requirements and a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be administered. Mike DeWine and prevents abortions from performed once fetal cardiac activity can be defected, which typically occurs at about six weeks’ gestation — before many women know they’re pregnant. In December 2023, the state’s Supreme Court dismissed the state’s appeal and sent the case back to the lower courts. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, 14 states have ceased nearly all abortion services, according to an ABC News tally, while three states — Florida, Georgia and South Carolina — all have six-week bans in place. Following the court’s decision, six states aside from Ohio have had abortion-related questions on the ballot and, each time, voters have sided with abortion rights supporters In an August 2022 primary, Kansas became the first state to let voters decide on abortion since the Supreme Court’s ruling, and residents struck down a proposal to remove the right to abortion from the state’s constitution. Three states — California, Michigan and Vermont — voted to strengthen rights and two states — Kentucky and Montana – voted against further limiting rights. It’s unclear how many states will have abortion-related ballot questions in the November 2024 election but, so far, 10 states have abortion-related state constitutional amendments on the ballot, according to KFF. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/ohio-judge-strikes-parts-states-6-week-abortion/story?id=110396171