Florida Supreme Court Allows 6-Week Abortion Ban, Approves Ballot Measure

The Florida Supreme Court allowed the state’s six-week abortion ban to move forward while also approving the language of a proposed amendment that could expand abortion access in the state.

The Ban Ruling: The court ruled that a 15-week abortion ban passed in 2022 was constitutional. This allows for a six-week abortion ban passed last year to take effect within 30 days. The justices concluded that the state’s right to privacy does not apply to abortion procedures.

The Proposed Amendment: If the proposed amendment receives at least 60% of voters’ support in November, the state’s ban on abortion would be at the point of fetus viability, which is at roughly 24-weeks. The justices approved the language of the proposed amendment, which reads, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider.”

How the Media Covered It: The New York Times (Lean Left bias) stated that the court “overturned decades of legal precedent” with the ruling. The article also stated that Florida was previously a destination for women in neighboring states with stricter laws to seek abortions, and that with the new ruling, women “now have to seek abortions much further away, perhaps in Virginia or Washington, D.C.” The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) noted the political angle of the ruling and proposed amendment, writing that Democrats “hope it will provide an advantage” in the November elections.