Louisiana’s on-again-off-again abortion ban law is on again, and this time it may stick. The state Supreme Court Friday rejected an appeal by abortion rights activists seeking to keep clinics open; arguing the law was too vague to enforce. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the High Court’s denial does not surprise him. He feels plaintiff’s argument didn’t hold up.
“The court’s denial of the plaintiffs’ request for relief really signals the end of any hope that they had of getting a court to allow abortions to happen in Louisiana,” he says.
Pro-choice advocates are angry there is such a law in place at all, but especially so that the law has no exemptions for cases of rape or incest. Governor Edwards, who signed the bill into law himself, also expressed that concern. Ciolino says the High court’s judgment sends a message on abortions.
“…which is if you want abortion rights protected, you need to go to the statehouse rather than the courthouse.”
Ciolino says this marks the end of battles over the abortion law in courts, and – if there are to be further exemption for abortions – there is a proper process for getting that done.
“If that sort of exception is going to exist, it’s NOT going to be a judicially created exception or right. It’s got to be one that’s created by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor.”
It is likely there will be bills filed next spring to add rape & incest exceptions into the law, and to repeal it altogether.
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