Abortion Bans
In the News

Abortion bans are provisions that completely ban abortion at some point in pregnancy. This includes bans based on time or fetal development, including 20-week bans and heartbeat laws that would ban abortion as early as six weeks, bans achieved by prohibiting the use of a specific medical procedure and bans based on the motivation of the woman seeking the abortion, such as race- and sex-selection bans.

Sole N.D. Abortion Clinic Sues Over Hospital Admitting Privileges Law
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Center for Reproductive Rights on Wednesday filed a lawsuit on behalf of North Dakota's only abortion clinic to challenge a state law (HB 2305) requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Challenge to Ark. 12-Week Abortion Ban May Proceed, Judge Rules
Thursday, May 16, 2013
A federal judge on Wednesday denied the Arkansas attorney general's request to dismiss a lawsuit against a state law (Act 301) banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, Bloomberg reports.

Challengers to Ark. 12-Week Abortion Ban Argue Case Should Go Forward Now
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Abortion-rights advocates on Monday argued that they should not have to wait until Arkansas begins enforcing a 12-week abortion ban (SB 134) before contesting the law's constitutionality, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Sen. Lee Introduces 20-Week Abortion Ban for Washington, D.C.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Tuesday introduced a bill (S 886) that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy in Washington, D.C., the AP/Washington Post reports.

N.C. House Passes Ban on Abortions Based on Sex of the Fetus
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The North Carolina House on Tuesday approved a bill (HB 716) that would prohibit physicians from performing an abortion if they have "knowledge, or an objective reason to know" that the sex of the fetus is a "significant factor" in the woman's request for the procedure, the AP/Charlotte Observer reports.

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IN THE COURTS

This section provides a brief overview of significant cases impacting reproductive rights and health related to Abortion Bans.

Edwards v. Beck
Challenge to Arkansas law that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected with an abdominal ultrasound, generally around 12 weeks of pregnancy.

McCormack v. Hiedeman
Challenge to Idaho 1972 criminal abortion restriction and 20-week ban by woman who was prosecuted under the law for self-inducing an abortion.

Paul A. Isaacson, M.D v. Tom Horne
Challenge to an unconstitutional Arizona law that prohibits abortion after 20 weeks following the woman's last menstrual period.

Lathrop v. Deal
Challenge under the Georgia state constitution to a Georgia law that would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks gestation.

AT-A-GLANCE

Issues

State by State

State by state

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Repro Health Watch — an exciting new edition of the Women’s Health Policy Report — compiles and distributes media coverage of proposed and enacted state laws and ballot initiatives affecting women's access to comprehensive reproductive health care, as well as litigation in response to those provisions.



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