Idaho Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Abortion Ban That Resembles Texas Heartbeat Act
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Idaho Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked the implementation of an abortion law that resembles the Texas Heartbeat Act.
The Idaho law (S.B. 1309), which was signed by Gov. Brad Little (R) in March, was initially set to go into effect on April 22. The ban would prohibit most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which usually takes place six weeks into a pregnancy. Similar to Texas' legislation, family members of a "preborn child" would be empowered to sue abortion providers for at least $20,000. The state's Supreme Court granted the delay as a response to a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood, which claims the abortion ban violates the Idaho Constitution.
Left-and center-rated outlets were more likely to highlight how the law allows a rapist's family members to sue medical providers "if the victim becomes pregnant," and that the six-week mark is "before many people know they are pregnant." Right-rated outlets were more likely to emphasize how Republican lawmakers "in at least 12 states" have proposed legislation similar to the Texas Heartbeat Act.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Idaho Supreme Court puts restrictive abortion law on hold amid Planned Parenthood lawsuitThe Idaho Supreme Court on Friday put a stay on the state’s controversial new abortion law, set to go into effect later this month, pending a lawsuit filed last week by Planned Parenthood.
Idaho’s law, inspired by Texas legislation, would ban most abortions after about six weeks and allow certain family members to sue abortion providers for at least $20,000. Republican lawmakers argued that six weeks is when a so-called fetal heartbeat can be detected, though medical experts have said it’s better described as electrical activity. Physicians said most people...
From the Right
Idaho Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Abortion Ban Modeled on Texas LawThe Idaho Supreme Court temporarily blocked implementation of an abortion law modeled on Texas’s bill banning abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
The court granted the stay in response to a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood. The organization operates three of the four abortion providers based in the state, according to the Idaho Statesman.
The temporary stay means that Idaho’s abortion law will not go into effect as scheduled on April 22, as both sides prepare for expected arguments. The Supreme Court must rule on the lawsuit before the bill can take effect.
The...
From the Left
Idaho Supreme Court temporarily blocks state’s new 6-week abortion banThe Idaho Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked the state’s new six-week abortion ban, which mimics a controversial Texas law.
Abortion providers had said in a lawsuit filed last week that the Idaho law violates several provisions of the state constitution and asked the state Supreme Court to intervene before April 22, when the law had been set to take effect.
The court on Friday granted a motion to reconsider, and said that the “implementation of Senate Bill 1309 is stayed pending further action by this Court.”
Last month, Idaho had become the...
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