Lawyers for the state argued the law should be analyzed using rational basis review, the lowest level of scrutiny to judge legal challenges. The undue burden is an intermediate level of scrutiny that requires laws do not create a significant obstacle to abortion. That means earlier rulings that applied an “undue burden test” for abortion laws remains in effect. Reynolds appointed five of the court’s seven members.īecause Friday’s decision was tied, the court affirms the lower court decision but otherwise the high court’s opinions have no other authority. Roe was overturned a week later and Reynolds sought to dissolve the 2019 decision.Ī state judge ruled last year that she had no authority to do so and Reynolds appealed to the state’s Supreme Court, which is now far more conservative than when the law was first passed.
In a separate case, the Iowa Supreme Court decided last year to reverse an opinion saying the state’s constitution affirms a fundamental right to abortion. Reynolds did not appeal the decision at the time. Planned Parenthood sued and a state judge blocked the law the following year. Reynolds signed Iowa’s 2018 law despite state and federal court decisions at the time, including Roe, affirming a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. The top court in Oklahoma last month struck two state laws banning abortion, but abortion remains illegal in all stages of pregnancy there, with some exceptions, because of another ban that remains in effect.Ī federal judge last year barred Idaho from enforcing its abortion ban in medical emergencies just after another federal judge made the opposite call on a Texas state law. Judges in some other states have found bans unconstitutional only in narrow ways. Since then, though, the state has adopted a new ban, though enforcement of it has been paused by a court.
The South Carolina Supreme Court earlier this year struck down a ban on abortions there after cardiac activity can be detected. But there have been final rulings in just a handful of cases since the Dobbs ruling – and no clear trend on how they’re going.Ī state appeals court ruled last year that an abortion ban dating back to before Arizona was a state does not apply to doctors, but whether it applies to other “helpers” is part of an ongoing legal dispute. Wade and handing authority over the issue to states.Ĭourts have put enforcement of several abortion bans and restrictions on hold while they consider whether they comply with state constitutions, including six currently paused. Supreme Court stripped women’s constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Most Republican-led states have severely curtailed access to abortion in the year since the U.S. The decision Friday was largely procedural - the 2022 appeal to the 2019 ruling was too late.Ībortions remain legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. While the state’s high court maintains the block on the law, it does not preclude Reynolds and lawmakers from passing a new law that looks the same.
“Abortion bans make pregnancy more dangerous than it already is, and it shouldn’t matter which state you live in.”
“Each person deserves control of their body, and Iowans have that right, based on today’s court decision,” she said in a statement. Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, called the decision “an enormous win.” Republicans hold large majorities in the state House and Senate, and leaders of both chambers criticized the ruling and suggested they will work toward passing new legislation.
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