The Indiana Supreme Court decided on Wednesday that abortions may still be performed there up until a ruling is reached at a hearing scheduled for January.
The plea of Indiana State Attorney Todd Rokita (R) seek the implementation of a new stringent abortion law pending the outcome of the state’s highest court was denied by the court. The bill was enacted after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, and it went into force on September 15 before being blocked by a temporary ruling.
“We are extremely sorry that the Indiana Supreme Court has decided to let the order against the state’s new abortion law stay in effect while an appeal is ongoing.” Following the decision, the CEO of Indiana Right to Life issued a statement “estimating that at least 3,000 unborn children now will needlessly perish through abortion as the law stays blocked.”
“Thousands more will perish as we wait for a definitive decision following the hearing in January. It will be much too late for those whose lives will be destroyed while this is contested in court, even though we are convinced the law will be respected,” he continued.
With the exception of incest, rape, and situations when the mother’s life is in danger, the new law includes one of the nation’s strictest bans on abortion, prohibiting the procedure from conception. In order to validate allegations of an attack, rape victims or incest are not obliged to sign an affidavit.
In Aug, the bill was signed into law by Gov Eric Holcomb (R-IN), who issued a statement to commemorate the occasion.
“After Roe was overturned, I made it quite plain that I would be ready to support laws that improved life-protection measures. Following its passing in both chambers of the Indiana Gen. Assembly with a strong majority of support, in my opinion, SEA 1 achieves this objective,” he stated.
8,414 abortions were reported in Indiana in 2021, according to the state’s health department. There were 465 from other states who came to Indiana, with Kentucky being the most non-resident visitors with 264.
The latest verdict permits abortions up until 22 weeks into the pregnancy in Indiana. The ruling was hailed by pro-choice activists as a significant victory over the state’s recent near-total abortion prohibition.
“GREAT NEWS: As we continue to challenge the state’s nearly comprehensive ban in court, abortion will remain available and legal in Indiana! At least until the state Supreme Court hears the issue in January 2023, the prohibition will remain blocked.”
