A county judge in Ohio is expected to make a decision on the state's law banning most abortions, taking into account the recent voter-approved constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights. The law, passed in 2019, prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. This ban has been challenged by a group of abortion clinics, especially after the passage of Issue 1, which guarantees individuals in Ohio the right to make their own reproductive decisions.
Ohio's Attorney General has acknowledged that the 2023 amendment makes the ban unconstitutional but is seeking to uphold certain provisions, such as notification and reporting requirements. Ohio was the only state in 2023 to address abortion rights through a statewide vote, reflecting a national trend of states moving to safeguard abortion access following changes in federal protections.
