The REPORTER & WISH-TV
A special judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking Indiana’s new abortion law. The Thursday decision means the ban is no longer in effect as the lawsuit proceeds.
The ACLU sued to block the ban, arguing the Indiana constitution includes a right to privacy and to make decisions on whether to have children.
The judge wrote in her ruling that whether a right to privacy exists in the state constitution is an open question.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said he plans to appeal the decision.
Rokita
“We plan to appeal and continue to make the case for life in Indiana,” Rokita said. “Our office remains determined to fight for the lives of the unborn, and this law provides a reasonable way to begin doing that.”
Lauren Ganapini, the executive director of the Indiana Democratic Party, says the state’s constitution includes a fundamental right to privacy and that the cost of the GOP’s “extreme agenda” makes Hoosier taxpayers the losers in this debate.
“The Monroe County Circuit Court’s decision for a preliminary injunction on the abortion ban today underscores what we all know: every Hoosier has a fundamental right to privacy,” Ganapini said. “Only a woman and her doctor should make personal health care decisions, not politicians, and it’s reassuring to see the decision show Hoosiers that the Indiana Republican Party’s effort to ban a legal and safe abortion has crossed the line. But the loser today continues to be taxpayers who at minimum have spent $240,000 to carry out the GOP’s extremist agenda. Enough is enough: A vote for Democrats is a vote to repeal the dangerous abortion ban and we urge all Hoosiers to support pro-choice candidates up and down the ballot this November.”
However, Indiana Right to Life lamented the blocking of the law.
“Today’s blockage of Indiana’s new law means over 161 unborn children will continue to lose their lives to abortion every week this injunction stays in effect. We are encouraged by the judge’s acknowledgement of the state’s legitimate interest in protecting unborn babies and are hopeful the blockage will be brief.”
Democrats in the state legislature applauded the judge’s decision to stay the new law. House Democrats say the decision “restores dignity.”
“The judge’s motion today temporarily restored dignity to Hoosier women. Indiana Republicans continue to waste Hoosier taxpayer dollars after a costly special session to ban abortion. The GOP’s endless crusade to disenfranchise women and girls of personal choice and autonomy has already cost our state countless dollars, and this lawsuit will surely add to the tab of hard-working folks. House Democrats will monitor the lawsuit as it moves through the judicial process.”
Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor says his caucus will continue to fight for expanded reproductive care.
Taylor
“I’m thankful to the judge for her ruling today and to the ACLU who has been persistent in their fight for reproductive rights, and I know Hoosiers across Indiana are as well,” Sen. Taylor said. “Although this is only a preliminary injunction, it’s a win for every Hoosier woman who is in need of vital care and will, because of today’s ruling, now be able to access it without traveling out of Indiana. Abortion care is healthcare and every extra day that this healthcare is available to women is critical. Because of this injunction, women have control of their bodies, lives and futures for that much longer. My caucus will continue fighting for expanded access to all reproductive care in Indiana until abortion is permanently restored as a right to the women of our state.”