Message #54071

[Psalm 51:17]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/health/oklahoma-supreme-court-puts-new-state-abortion-law-on-hold/article_7ec5227b-327b-5623-bdc6-6e8ae2197955.html
Oklahoma Supreme Court puts new state abortion laws on hold
11/4/14

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold two laws that restricted abortions.

Reproductive Services in Tulsa and the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice filed suit against House Bill 2684 alleging it violated provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution. The measure put restrictions on medication used to induce an abortion.

An Oklahoma County district judge last month put a portion of the law on hold. That decision was appealed by the plaintiffs to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Plaintiffs sought to have the entire law put on hold.

The state's high court sent the case back to district court to be litigated.

"This court expresses no opinion concerning the validity of the Act," the opinion said.

The law took effect Saturday.

Norman abortion provide Dr. Larry Burns filed suit in Oklahoma County district court against Senate Bill 1848, which requires doctors with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital to be present during the abortion. It also took effect Saturday.

A district judge declined to put the law on hold. That decision was appealed to the state’s high court, which put the law on hold, according to an opinion released Tuesday.

The district court is expected to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the law.

Both cases were handled by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

“Today the Oklahoma Supreme Court handed the women of Oklahoma a crucial victory by protecting their constitutional rights and restoring critical options for those seeking safe and legal abortion services,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Time and time again, courts are seeing that the true motive behind these underhanded and baseless restrictions is to push essential reproductive health care services out of reach for as many women as possible.

“We will continue to stand with Oklahoma women and their health care providers to ultimately see these sham restrictions overturned and ensure their rights are never determined by virtue of their zip code.”