Ohio Judge Blocks Part of 6-Week Abortion Ban
- A county judge in Ohio has temporarily blocked several state laws that combined to create a 24-hour waiting period for obtaining an abortion.
- The ruling is the first court decision on a 2023 constitutional amendment that guarantees access to the procedure.
- Parts of Ohio's six-week abortion ban have been struck down by the judge.
— A Franklin County judge has temporarily blocked several state laws that imposed a 24-hour waiting period for obtaining an abortion, marking a significant legal development following a 2023 constitutional amendment that guarantees access to abortion in Ohio. Judge David C. Young ruled that the laws, which included mandatory in-person consultations and information requirements, burdened patients and providers, violating their rights under the newly amended state constitution. Republican Attorney General Dave Yost announced plans to appeal the decision. In his ruling, Young emphasized that the language of last year’s Issue 1 was “clear and unambiguous,” asserting that the challenged statutes did not advance patient health. Jessie Hill, an attorney with the ACLU of Ohio, hailed the ruling as a historic victory for abortion rights, stating it reflects the will of Ohio voters who support reproductive freedom. The ACLU plans to seek a permanent injunction against the laws. The state argued that the legal standards established before the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade should apply, claiming that the waiting period and informed consent laws were essential safety measures. However, Young rejected this argument, stating that the Dobbs decision returned authority over abortion laws to the states, allowing Ohio's constitutional amendment to take precedence. As the legal battle continues, the implications of this ruling may resonate beyond Ohio, as other states grapple with similar abortion rights issues following the Supreme Court's decision.