The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 8-1 to send a Kentucky abortion law back to a lower court for further review. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron called it a validation of the pro-life movement.
HB 454, passed in 2018, banned a second-trimester abortion procedure of dilation and evacuation. The law was challenged by an abortion clinic and the sixth circuit court of appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling permanently blocking the law. Attorney-General Cameron welcomed the return to the appeals court.
“Now we cannot be sure what the road ahead will look like, but you can count on us to continue to vigorously advocate for this law and for life,” said Cameron.
Northern Kentucky GOP Representative Joe Fischer said the ruling upholds Kentucky’s sovereign right to defend duly enacted state laws when constitutionality is challenged.
Louisville Democratic Representative Mary Lou Marzian called it a quote, “kind of a neutral decision.” The nurse said issues that deal with personal-private medical decisions should be out of the general assembly and out of the courts.
“Medical personnel and women can make decisions for themselves and the fact that these male-dominated legislators keep oppressing women is just obscene,” said Marzian.
It’s expected to be at least 25 days before the matter is back before the Sixth Circuit.
