A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Idaho cannot prosecute physicians who perform abortions to protect a pregnant patient's health or to prevent self-harm, a decision that changes the legal exposure doctors in the state face when treating serious pregnancy complications.
US District Judge B. Lynn Winmill held that Idaho's Defense of Life Act and Fetal Heartbeat Act, which together create a near-total ban on abortion, violate the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment as applied to health-preserving care. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador says he will appeal.
