Utah agrees to not enforce the new 18-week abortion ban until courts review it
A federal judge on Thursday barred the state from enforcing Utah’s new abortion restrictions while a case challenging their constitutionality winds its way through the courts.
HB136, passed by the Utah Legislature during the session that ended in March, bans elective abortions after 18 weeks of gestation. The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah have filed a lawsuit to strike down the law, saying it violates longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
The office of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes on Thursday filed a motion agreeing to what’s called a preliminary injunction that would prevent the 18-week ban from taking effect in May. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood welcomed Reyes’ motion and a judge’s decision to issue the injunction.
“This means there will be no disruption in care for the Utah women seeking abortion services at or after 18 weeks,” Karrie Galloway, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood in Utah, said in a prepared statement. “Every person deserves the right to decide whether and when to become a parent, and we will continue to fight to protect the constitutional rights of Utahns to access safe, legal abortion.”
Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/04/18/utah-agrees-not-enforce/