Hunter
08/16/24
Iowa’s abortion providers have dropped a suit against the state over the new six-week abortion ban, which just went into effect July 29th.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and Iowa City’s Emma Goldman Clinic had sued to block the 2023 law, and a trial court injunction blocked the law from taking effect. The state appealed the decision, and the State Supreme Court narrowly ruled in June that the law could go into effect.
The state’s Chief Justice, Susan Christiansen, wrote in her dissent that the clinics had other constitutional arguments that haven’t been tested by the courts. But the plaintiffs filed to voluntarily dismiss the suit a day before today’s scheduling conference.
A statement released by Planned Parenthood said they didn’t think further court proceedings would get the law overturned. Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, called it a “heartbreaking reality” that continuing the case in court would not improve or expand access to care.