On June 17, 2022 in PP v. Reynolds, the Iowa Supreme court made their decision on the 24-hour waiting period and stated that it is constitutional and furthermore corrected the egregious 2018 ruling and stated, “and thus reject the proposition that there is a fundamental right to abortion in Iowa’s constitution.”
This now puts creating law into the hands of our duly elected legislators. They will now be able to pass common-sense regulations regarding abortion to ensure the safety and well-being of our Iowa citizens.
However, the future of abortion law in Iowa in uncertain, and as we have seen with the back-and-forth in the courts it reveals the need for the protect life amendment because the people of Iowa cannot allow a future court to simply overrule them on a whim like the judges did in 2018.
The 24-hour law is now enforceable, and PP has started to implement a two appointment schedule.
Gov. Reynolds had asked the Iowa Supreme Court to reopen the case as she wanted the justices to consider a new legal standard regarding further abortion restrictions. Previously it had been an ‘undue burden’ standard and now we are hopeful to have a ‘rational basis’ standard in determining abortion law.
Since the Iowa Supreme Court refused to hear it, it went to the lower district court in Polk County, and then PP decided to drop the lawsuit in fear of doing more damage.
Heartbeat bill- Gov. Reynolds requested that the Iowa courts lift the injunction against enforcement of Iowa’s heartbeat law. AG Tom Miller recused himself and Gov. Reynolds appointed Alan Ostegren from Kirkwood Institute and ADF to represent the state of Iowa pro bono. Initial briefs have been filed on both sides, and trial was Oct. 28 at the Polk Co. Courthouse. They made the ruling against us and we have moved to an appeal and hope to have the final decision this summer.
