Alabama’s Abortion Ban Has Been Blocked for Now
Last week, a federal judge blocked Alabama’s plan to ban almost all abortions. The ban, which came with the most extreme anti-abortion laws that state lawmakers passed this year, would make getting an abortion in Alabama illegal in almost every stage.
The law, which was named the “Human Life Protection Act” and was drafted by the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, called for a complete ban of abortions.
The law would ban the right to an abortion even if pregnancy occurred due to rape or incest and the only exception that would be made is if the mother’s life is at risk.
The law also threatens doctors who might perform the procedures. Any doctor who gave a woman an abortion could be charged with a felony and be put in jail for up to 99 years.
Judge Myron H. Thompson, of the United States District Court for the middle district of Alabama, was the judge who blocked the ban. He wrote that the ban “violated Supreme Court precedent and defies the constitution.”
Following in Alabamas steps, six other states have tried to put laws in place that would ban abortion after the fetus’ heartbeat is detected. These states include Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, and Lousiana. Utah and Arkansas tried to ban abortions after 18 weeks.
All of these laws have also been temporarily banned by federal judges.
If put in effect in any of those states, these laws would be overthrowing the already put in place law that is Roe v. Wade.
Roe v. Wade is a law that was fought for and won in 1973. Its purpose was to legalize abortion up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy.
Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey, said she knew the ruling was bound to happen. She was quoted by The New York Times by saying that the legislation she was signing into place was “likely unenforceable, but it will prompt courts to revisit this important matter.”
This is a fight between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups and one that is unlikely to go away any time soon.
Alabama legislatures are hoping to take their abortion ban to the Supreme Court.
