A pregnant woman in Kentucky has filed a lawsuit challenging the state's near-total ban on abortion. The lawsuit, filed in state court in Louisville, argues that Kentucky laws restricting abortions violate the plaintiff's constitutional rights to privacy and self-determination. The woman, identified as Mary Poe to protect her privacy, is about seven weeks pregnant and seeks to terminate her pregnancy, which she cannot legally do in Kentucky.
The lawsuit contends that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy is deeply personal and should be a fundamental right. The plaintiff's legal team, including attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union, asserts that denying access to abortion care infringes on individuals' health, bodies, lives, and futures.
The lawsuit names Kentucky's Republican Attorney General as a defendant, who has vowed to defend the state's laws in court. On the other hand, a conservative group opposed to abortion has criticized the lawsuit as baseless, citing Kentucky's historical stance on pro-life legislation.
The legal challenge targets Kentucky's near-total trigger law ban and a separate six-week ban, both enacted by Republican legislative majorities. The trigger law, which came into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, prohibits most abortions with limited exceptions.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status to represent others who face similar restrictions on abortion rights. Despite a failed ballot measure in 2022, abortion rights advocates continue to push for legislative changes in Kentucky's Republican-controlled Legislature.
Abortion access in Kentucky has been severely restricted, with the state's Supreme Court declining to halt the near-total ban. Advocates argue that such bans have significant consequences on individuals' lives, forcing some to travel out of state for care or carry pregnancies against their will.
The plaintiff emphasizes that the ability to make decisions about one's pregnancy is essential and hopes that the lawsuit will pave the way for improved access to healthcare in the community.
