The majority of a North Carolina law that prohibits abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy went into effect on Saturday after a judge’s ruling on Friday.
“Today’s ruling is a crucial win for the unborn and their mothers,” Caitlin Connors, southern regional director of SBA Pro-Life America, told WRAL-TV.
“Passed with a supermajority of the legislature’s support, SB 20 reflects the will of the people of North Carolina. We celebrate that babies will be protected at 12 weeks gestation and the state’s record $160 million in funding for parental leave, material support, and many other resources will help women and children in North Carolina,” Connors said.
VICTORY! North Carolina Judge Allows Law Protecting Babies From Abortions to Take Effect https://t.co/YvhK77Grvz pic.twitter.com/u3B6WyrNX9
— Steven Ertelt (@StevenErtelt) July 1, 2023
Planned Parenthood had filed a lawsuit to prevent the law from taking effect, citing its ambiguity.
Friday, former President Barack Obama’s appointee, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles, blocked a provision of the law requiring physicians to produce documentation. She denied the request for a provisional restraining order, which would have halted the implementation of the law pending the outcome of legal challenges.
“The General Assembly provided the clarity physicians asked for and now Senate Bill 20, including the $160 million in funding for child care access, paid parental leave for state employees, maternal health, and other pro-family measures, will largely go into effect,” Lauren Horsch, a spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger, said.
She added, “It’s unfortunate that Planned Parenthood — aided by Attorney General [Josh] Stein — hasn’t given up its crusade to save its business model.”
According to the Charlotte Observer, Eagles stated in her ruling that legislative language issues were primarily resolved by legislation developed by legislators and signed this week by Governor Roy Cooper.
North Carolina abortion ban to take effect after judge blocks single provision | Just The News https://t.co/07lwAKvMm4
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) June 30, 2023
More on this story via The Western Journal:
Among the issues solved was that the law would not be construed to punish anyone who helps a woman obtain a legal abortion in another state.
With that understanding, “the ambiguities and First Amendment issues raised by the plaintiffs are unlikely to rise to an unconstitutional level and a temporary restraining order is not necessary at this stage,” Eagles wrote in her ruling. CONTINUE READING…