The Idaho Supreme Court temporarily blocked the recently signed law to ban nearly all abortions in Idaho Friday.
The court blocked the law that was set to take effect April 22. Planned Parenthood of Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky filed the lawsuit March 30, just days after Gov. Brad Little signed the Texas-style measure into law.
The state has until April 28 to respond to the motion.
“Patients across Idaho can breathe a sigh of relief tonight,” said Rebecca Gibron, interim CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai’i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, in a statement. “We are thrilled that abortion will remain accessible in the state for now, but our fight to ensure that Idahoans can fully access their constitutionally protected rights is far from over. Anti-abortion lawmakers have made clear that they will stop at nothing to control our lives, our bodies, and our futures. Planned Parenthood will continue fighting for every person’s ability to access basic health care, no matter their race, zip code, or economic status. We look forward to our day in court.”
Little signed the bill into law March 23, but noted concerns of the law's constitutionality and "significant concerns" regarding the laws impact on victims of sexual assault.
BREAKING: The Idaho Supreme Court just blocked the near-total abortion ban #SB1309 until further order of the Court. This means the law will NOT go into effect on April 22. #IDleg #IDpol
— Planned Parenthood GNHAIK (@PPGNHAIK) April 8, 2022
The law allows the potential father, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles of a preborn child to sue an abortion provider for a minimum of $20,000 in damages within four years of the abortion. Rapists couldn’t file such a lawsuit, but a rapist’s relatives could.
Read the Idaho Supreme Court's motion here:
