Iowa Supreme Court Deals Blow to Abortion Rights
The GOP-packed Iowa Supreme Court on Friday dealt a serious blow to abortion rights in the state amid heightened fears about the future of reproductive freedom nationwide.
In a case challenging medically unnecessary restrictions, Iowa’s high court determined that there is no fundamental right to abortion protected by the state constitution—which clears the way for state lawmakers to pass even stricter measures.
The move reverses the state court’s own 2018 decision—which preceded Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds appointing four of the seven current justices—and comes as the nation awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Demands for the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress to protect and expand reproductive rights have grown since a draft opinion on Roe leaked last month. Despite that pressure, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) recently joined with Republicans to block the Women’s Health Protection Act.
In response to the decision in the Hawkeye State on Friday, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)—who has publicly discussed her abortion—warned that “other states will soon follow Iowa.”
“The Senate needs to end the filibuster and codify Roe v. Wade,” added Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
As the end of Roe has loomed in recent weeks, reproductive rights advocates have highlighted that due to so-called trigger bans and other laws, abortion will likely be outlawed in at least 26 states if the landmark 1973 ruling falls.
“This law imposes medically unjustified obstacles for Iowans that will delay people who can’t find the necessary transportation, time off work, or childcare to enable them to obtain care under the restriction—and will effectively put abortion out of reach for many,” explained Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which took on the restrictions in court with the ACLU of Iowa.
ACLU of Iowa legal director Rita Bettis Austen also vowed to keep fighting against the court’s “devastating and shocking reversal” that allows “a dangerous and harmful restriction on vital healthcare” to take effect.
As Bettis Austen put it: “We will not give up the fight to protect Iowa women’s equality and freedom.”
Originally published at Commondreams.org, written by Jessica Corbett.
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