In a significant development, an Iowa law banning most abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy was signed into effect on Friday, leading to clinics hastily arranging out-of-state care for many women who no longer have access to services. A judge is currently considering whether to temporarily suspend the law while its constitutionality is assessed, with a ruling expected on Monday at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the measure into law in front of a crowd of 2,000 conservative Christians, barely a mile away from where the court hearing took place. This new legislation prohibits nearly all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, a significant departure from the previous limit of 20 weeks.
On Wednesday, the ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States, and the Emma Goldman Clinic filed a legal challenge to the ban. Following the court hearing, District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin acknowledged the gravity of the case and refrained from making a hasty ruling from the bench.
This ongoing battle between abortion advocates and opponents in Iowa has dragged on for years, and its resolution remains uncertain. Governor Reynolds, when asked about the legal challenge, reaffirmed her commitment to passing the law, emphasizing the overwhelming support of lawmakers and proclaiming that the will of the people must be respected.
In the context of recent decisions by both the U.S. Supreme Court and Iowa’s Supreme Court reversing previous rulings on the constitutional right to abortion, this new measure will be closely scrutinized. Last month, the Iowa Supreme Court reached a deadlock on Governor Reynolds’ blocked 2018 law, prompting her to call for the special legislative session that resulted in the passing of the current ban.
Planned Parenthood North Central States is working diligently to help patients reschedule their appointments in other states, while remaining hopeful for a swift resolution to the legal proceedings. However, the potential impact of the law on patients’ lives and their ability to control their bodies and futures is deeply concerning.
As of Wednesday, there were 200 patients with scheduled abortions in Iowa who were affected by the ban. One clinic even extended its operating hours to provide care to as many patients as possible before the restrictions took effect.
It’s important to note that the new law does allow for abortions under certain circumstances such as rape, incest, fetal abnormalities incompatible with life, or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant woman.
This move by Iowa aligns with a broader trend among Republican-led states to restrict abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hand authority on abortion laws to the states. Over a dozen states have enacted bans with limited exceptions, and Georgia has banned abortion after cardiac activity is detected. Several other states have similar restrictions pending court rulings.
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