Reactions quickly surfaced following Friday morning’s overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. Via a 6-3 decision, the court held that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, and abortion rights and restrictions will be decided by the states.
In Ohio, where abortion is currently legal up until 20 weeks of pregnancy, Attorney General Dave Yost said Friday he has filed an emergency motion in federal court to dissolve the injunction against the state’s “heartbeat law” with Roe v. Wade being overturned. The injunction was issued by a federal judge shortly after the “Human Rights Protection Act” was signed into law in 2019, banning abortions after a detectable heartbeat.
The injunction blocked it from being enforced, ruling it violated the constitutional right under Roe v. Wade.
“Because there exists no just reason for delay, Defendants respectfully request this Court immediately dissolve the preliminary injunction and dismiss the case,” Yost said in Friday’s filing.
There is pending legislation that has yet to be reviewed: Senate Bill 123 and House Bill 598. The legislation would ban abortion and rule it a felony in the state, but includes exceptions such as if the mother’s life is in danger.