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Iowa Supreme Court Rules 4-3 to Allow Six-Week Abortion Ban Starting June 28

Jun 28, 2024, 02:45 PM

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that a law banning most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy can take effect, reversing a lower court order that had previously blocked the 2023 law. The decision, which was made by a narrow 4-3 vote, allows the state to enforce the strict abortion law that prohibits abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected. This ruling, issued on Thursday, June 28, aligns with a broader trend of states imposing more restrictive abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to end federal protections for the procedure. The Iowa law, often referred to as a 'fetal heartbeat' ban, is considered a near-total ban on abortion, as many women do not realize they are pregnant within the six-week timeframe. Iowa leaders, particularly Republican leaders, had been pushing for the law to go into effect, and the state's highest court has now granted their wish, significantly limiting abortion access in the state.