Federal Judge issues injunction to prevent Alabama abortion law from going into effect

Federal Judge issues injunction to prevent Alabama abortion law from going into effect

U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction today (Oct. 29) putting Alabama’s restrictive new abortion law on hold until the court makes a decision on its constitutionality.

The Alabama Human Life Protection Act, signed May 15 by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, criminalizes performing an abortion in Alabama by making it a felony in almost all cases. The ban would have gone into effect Nov. 15.

On May 24, abortion rights groups and abortion providers filed a lawsuit challenging the newly signed law and saying it would all but ban abortion in Alabama.

In a statement following her signing of the law, Ivey said the bill was “unenforceable” because of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. She said supporters of the bill, who believe ‘every life is precious and … a sacred gift from God,’ believe it is time for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the issue of legalized abortion and that Alabama’s law might be “the best opportunity” for review. (TAB)