Recent legal developments in Ohio have seen two additional laws aimed at restricting abortions being blocked by the courts. These rulings come in the wake of a 2023 constitutional amendment that guarantees access to abortion in the state.
One of the laws that have been temporarily halted is a ban on the use of telemedicine for medication abortions. Another law that has been blocked prohibits non-doctors, such as midwives and nurse practitioners, from prescribing the abortion pill mifepristone.
These decisions follow a previous ruling by a Columbus judge that prevented Ohio from enforcing laws that imposed a 24-hour waiting period for individuals seeking abortions. Any potential appeals by the state could eventually reach the Ohio Supreme Court, where the issue of abortion is considered pivotal, especially given the upcoming elections.
The recent injunction issued by Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Alison Hatheway highlighted the significant shift in the legal landscape following the enactment of the constitutional amendment known as Issue 1. The judge indicated that many existing abortion restrictions in Ohio may now be deemed unconstitutional.
According to Judge Hatheway, the state's argument that these laws are necessary for the health and safety of Ohio residents did not meet the new legal standards set by the constitutional amendment. On the other hand, the plaintiffs, including Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, presented compelling evidence that the laws in question violated the newly established reproductive rights of Ohioans.
Responding to the rulings, Peter Range from Ohio's Center for Christian Virtue expressed concerns that organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood are seeking to eliminate common-sense laws that protect women and unborn babies in the state. He called for a return to laws that balance women's rights with protections for the unborn.
One of the laws targeted by the recent rulings, which focused on telemedicine abortions, had already been under a temporary hold since 2021. However, the legal challenge was updated to reflect the passage of Issue 1 and to include objections to the mifepristone restriction.
The constitutional amendment, which passed with a significant majority of the vote, guarantees Ohioans the right to make their own reproductive decisions without undue restrictions.
