Lawsuit Filed Challenging Alabama’s Abortion Law
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Alabama, and Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to block Alabama’s strict new abortion law.
“We are proud to take this fight to the state,” says Staci Fox, president of Planned Parenthood Southeast. “They asked for it, and we promised it, and today we delivered.”
Alabama’s law, which was signed by Governor Kay Ivey last week, makes it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy with the only exception for a serious health risk to the woman. There’s no exception for rape or incest. A doctor convicted under the law could face up to 99 years in prison.
The lawsuit says the near ban is unconstitutional and would harm women.
“We hope our state’s elected leaders take note and stop using taxpayer dollars on a legal gamble that they know is unconstitutional and unenforceable,” says Randall Marshall, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama.
BREAKING: The @ACLU, @ACLUAlabama and @PPFA filed a lawsuit this morning to block #Alabama’s new law that would ban almost all #abortions in the state. You can read a statement by ACLU below: https://t.co/gMD2Xw6lVk
— WBHM 90.3 FM (@WBHM) May 24, 2019
A spokesman for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says Marshall is reviewing the lawsuit and has no further comment.
Supporters of the law say it’s designed to challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. They also say they expect to lose at the lower court level. Their hope is that the addition of two conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, will mean the high court rules in their favor.
Alabama’s law is part of a wave of state laws that restrict the procedure. Recently approved laws in Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Ohio ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. None of the laws have taken effect and all are expected to be blocked by the courts as the legal challenges play out with an ultimate eye on the Supreme Court.
This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.
Updated 11:30 a.m. to include comment from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office
Trump calls on the federal government to recognize North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe
President Trump made good on a campaign promise to ask the Department of the Interior to recognize the Lumbee people of North Carolina — a tribe whose Native identity has long been called into question.
Hamas releases 4 more hostages as part of ceasefire agreement with Israel
Four female soldiers taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023 by Hamas were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza on Saturday morning, and then transferred to the Israeli military.
5 money-draining mistakes travelers make when planning a vacation
People get a lot wrong when it comes to paying for vacation, say travel experts, and that can cost serious cash. Here's how to plan a trip that's safe, adventurous and under budget.
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary, wins Senate confirmation
Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote as Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement to win Senate approval.
Trump re-enacts policy banning aid to groups abroad that discuss or provide abortions
The Mexico City Policy cuts off U.S. aid to health groups in other countries that offer abortion services or counseling. As in 2021, Trump has reinstated this policy, which was deactivated by Biden.
U.S. puts virtually all foreign aid on 90-day hold, issues ‘stop-work’ order
Following Trump's Monday freeze on foreign aid, a subsequent memo calls for for a stop-work order for current grants and contracts.
