(The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says he plans to appeal an injunction that stops the law requiring a 24-hour waiting period and informed consent before an abortion.
The ruling from Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Young is the first ruling after voters easily enshrined abortion rights in the state’s constitution in November.
Young said the state law that mandates the 24-hour waiting period, in-person visits and state-mandated information requirements for abortion violate reproductive rights guaranteed by the new amendment.
“This is an historic victory for abortion patients and for all Ohio voters who voiced support for the constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy,” said Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union-Ohio. “It’s clear that the newly amended Ohio Constitution works as the voters intend: to protect the fundamental right to abortion and to forbid the state from infringing on it except when necessary to protect the health of a pregnant person. This decision is the first step in removing unnecessary barriers to care.”
The ACLU and Planned Parenthood of Ohio sued to block the provisions in March.
Yost spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle called the state mandates important for the safety of patients.
“We have heard the voices of the people and recognize that reproductive rights are now protected in our constitution,” she said. “However, we respectfully disagree with the court’s decision that requiring doctors to obtain informed consent and wait 24 hours prior to an abortion constitute a burden. These are essential safety features designed to ensure that women receive proper care and make voluntary decisions. These measures were consistently upheld under Roe v. Wade. We plan to appeal this ruling.”
As reported by The Center Square, Yost previously agreed with plaintiffs that the state’s law banning nearly all abortions is unconstitutional after the November vote.
Since the vote, statehouse Democrats have pushed several abortion rights and reproductive care bills, including one that would end the 24-hour waiting period and others to stop transfer agreements and targeted regulation of abortion providers.
None of those bills have had any movement.