Des Moines, Iowa – Yesterday the Iowa Supreme Court granted a motion to stay the enforcement of a law requiring women seeking an abortion to wait a minimum of 72 hours after their first appointment and make a second, medically unnecessary trip to their health care provider. Today's ruling extends a prior temporary injunction; the law will now be stayed through the duration of the lawsuit filed by ACLU of Iowa and Planned Parenthood against sections of legislation passed by anti-woman legislators last session and signed into law in May 2017.
"This unconstitutional disregard by lawmakers—including Gov. Kim Reynolds—for Iowans and their right to abortion access, hurled our patients' lives into chaos during the two hours that the law was in effect. We are thankful that while this case moves through the court, Iowans will continue to have access to the safe, legal abortion care they are constitutionally entitled to receive," said PPHeartland Medical Director Jill Meadows, M.D., a plaintiff in the case.
"Iowa women, whose right to safe, legal abortion has been accepted law for nearly 45 years, should continue to have the protection that has been guaranteed under the Iowa Constitution. Today's stay was essential to protect the rights of Iowa women as the appeal is heard by the Court," said Rita Bettis, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa.