U.S. abortion providers are challenging a growing number of state “trigger laws” designed to ban abortion after the Supreme Court ended constitutional abortion protections.
A handful of challenges to trigger laws adopted in 13 states come as states also face expected legal battles over certain restrictions – such as bans on abortions over six or 15 weeks – as well as outdated bans from as far back to the 19th century that were never removed from state statues after the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.
Since the June 24 Supreme Court ruling, judges have put trigger laws on hold in Louisiana and Utah, while other challenges are pending in Kentucky, Idaho and Mississippi. More are likely, said Mary Ziegler, a Florida State University law professor who focuses on abortion.
Some of the lawsuits argue the trigger laws are too vague or violate state constitutional protections. Ziegler said the challenges in some cases may be limited to “buying time” in conservative states that have more than one type of abortion ban and where legislatures are dominated by abortion opponents.
Here are some of the states that have seen trigger laws challenges:
Idaho
What happened: A Planned Parenthood group that operates two clinics in Idaho filed a challenge to the state’s 2020 trigger law on Monday.
Idaho’s trigger law, scheduled to take effect 30 days after Roe v. Wade opinion’s issuance, bans abortion except in instances when the pregnancy puts the woman’s life at risk. Providers can face up to five years in prison. It makes exceptions for police-reported case of incest or rape, according to the Idaho Statesman.
The lawsuit argues the ban violates state constitutional rights to privacy and equal protection and is “unconstitutionally vague,” including by failing to detail when providers can offer services without facing penalties.
How abortion providers are responding: Planned Parenthood Greater Northwest spokesperson Katie Rodihan told the Idaho Capital Sun that the organization plans to provide abortion care for as long as legally possible and that several clinics had increased the number of available appointments.
What’s next: Planned Parenthood has asked the court to schedule oral arguments for Aug. 3, the Capital Sun reported. That’s the same day the court is also expected to decide on Idaho’s Texas-style ban prohibiting abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and authorizing family members to sue medical providers for performing an abortion.
Kentucky
What happened: Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry in Louisville this week heard arguments over whether to allow abortions to resume while the court considers a legal challenge to the state’s 2019 trigger law, which bans abortion except to prevent the death or permanent injury of a pregnant woman.
The challenge, filed by Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center, the state’s only two providers, argues that Kentucky’s constitution protects the right to privacy. On Wednesday, their attorneys asked the judge in a hearing to block the trigger law.
How abortion providers are responding: Abortion services ended in Kentucky on June 24, the day the U.S. Supreme Court struck down abortion as a federal constitutional right, leaving regulation up to states. The state’s providers are requesting to resume services if the laws are halted.
What’s next: Judge Perry said he could issue a ruling on temporary restraining order Wednesday or Thursday. He has also scheduled a July 6 hearing for an injunction against the law, which would extend a ban against enforcement while a legal challenge is pending.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, meanwhile, has argued that there is no right to abortion in the Commonwealth’s constitution. A ballot initiative will be put to voters in November that if approved would establish that no state constitutional right to abortion exists.
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Louisiana
What happened: New Orleans Civil District Court Judge Robin Giarrusso issued a temporary restraining order Monday preventing enforcement of Louisiana trigger laws, which made abortion illegal with no exceptions for rape and incest.
The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit on behalf of Hope Medical Group for Women and others, challenging the constitutionality of what it described as “vague trigger laws” that made it impossible to tell which laws were in effect, what conduct was prohibited and what exceptions and criminal penalties apply.
How abortion providers are responding: At least one of the state’s three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. “We’re going to do what we can,” said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. “It could all come to a screeching halt.”
What’s next: A hearing is set for July 8. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican who is staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge’s ruling and enforce the law.
Mississippi
What happened: The state’s Republican attorney general published notice that the state’s trigger law would take effect in 10 days after the ruling, or July 7. Under the law, any person who knowingly performs or attempts to induce an abortion, except the pregnant woman, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the state’s last abortion provider, filed a lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court to prevent Mississippi from enforcing its trigger ban.
The lawsuit argues Mississippians have a state constitutional right to an abortion that was confirmed by a 1998 state Supreme Court ruling that held the “right to privacy includes an implied right to choose whether or not to have an abortion,” according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.
How abortion providers are responding: Jackson Women’s Health Organization is providing services as long as it legally can, said clinic owner Diane Derzis.
What’s next: It’s unclear when the case will be heard. All four Hinds County chancery judges rescued themselves from the lawsuit and requested the state Supreme Court appoint a special judge to hear the case, according to Mississippi Today. It is not clear whether the state will try to enforce the trigger law if the case is not resolved by July 7. The Attorney General’s office said it was awaiting the appointment of a special chancellor.
Utah
What happened: Third District Judge Andrew Stone blocked Utah’s trigger law abortion ban from going into effect on Monday for 14 days to allow time to hear a challenge to the law.
Planned Parenthood of Utah and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah filed a lawsuit Saturday, contending the 2020 law violates the state constitution’s equal protection and privacy provisions. Under the law, which bans most abortions with some limited exceptions, anyone found guilty of performing an abortion could face up to 15 years in prison.
How abortion providers are responding: Utah’s Planned Parenthood resumed abortions at several locations since the judge halted the law, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Karrie Galloway, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, said in a statement that it was part of of a “long and difficult fight.”
What’s next: State officials argued Utah’s constitution does not protect the right to abortion. A July 11 hearing is scheduled in the challenge, KSL.com reported.
Contributing: Wicker Perlis, The Clarion-Ledger; Deborah Yetter, The Louisville Courier Journal; Greg Hillburn and Makenzie Boucher, Shreveport Times; The Associated Press
Chris Kenning is a national news writer. Reach him at ckenning@usatoday.com and on Twitter @chris_kenning.