TALLAHASSEE — Well being care suppliers argued earlier than a Florida choose on Monday that the state’s new ban on abortion after 15 weeks of being pregnant violates the state structure, and urged the courtroom to dam its enforcement.
The legislation, signed this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is ready to take impact on Friday. Whatever the Supreme Courtroom ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade final week, the Florida plaintiffs argue that the brand new legislation violates the state structure’s safety of particular person privateness rights. In earlier rulings, that has been interpreted to incorporate the correct to abortion.
Choose John C. Cooper of the state’s Second Judicial Circuit Courtroom started the listening to on Monday morning by reminding the events that he was required to observe the legislation — and never try to predict how the Florida Supreme Courtroom would in the end rule sooner or later.
Dr. Shelly Tien, a gynecologist who works for Deliberate Parenthood in Jacksonville in addition to clinics in different states, testified on Monday morning that abortion is a protected and customary process. She mentioned that ladies who search abortions after 15 weeks typically accomplish that amid a disaster.
“Ladies and ladies who want abortions after 15 weeks are inclined to have essentially the most difficult and compelling life circumstances,” Dr. Tien mentioned. She mentioned these circumstances embrace poverty, being the sufferer of home abuse, and having developed problems to an supposed being pregnant.
Andrew Shirvell, the founder and government director of Florida Voice for the Unborn, expressed skepticism earlier than the listening to that Choose Cooper would uphold the brand new abortion ban. “He’s clearly on the plaintiffs’ facet,” Mr. Shirvell mentioned.
Till now, Florida has had fewer restrictions on abortion than different Southern states, making it a refuge for girls throughout the area who’re searching for abortions. The brand new legislation is just like the Mississippi statute on the coronary heart of the Supreme Courtroom case that overturned Roe v. Wade; it consists of no exceptions for circumstances of rape or incest.
Testimony is anticipated to final all through the day on Monday, and the choose is prone to rule later this week.
