U.S. courts let Indiana abortion restriction laws stand

Lizzie Kane, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read
Demonstrators rally for abortion rights on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The rally turned into a march around the city. There was also an anti-abortion rally held in the afternoon.
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U.S. courts let two Indiana abortion laws stand as of Monday: one that prohibits abortions sought on the basis of race, sex or disability of a fetus and the other that requires courts to notify parents or guardians if a minor seeks an abortion through the court system.

Attorney General Todd Rokita celebrated the U.S. district court's decision regarding House Enrolled Act 1337, the abortion prohibition law that was signed into law in 2016 by then-Gov. Mike Pence.

“There is something particularly repugnant about discriminating against a child because of his or her race, sex or disability,” Rokita said in a news release. “To choose to end a child’s life on that basis while he or she is still in the womb is especially tragic. Hoosiers can be grateful that Indiana is now free to enforce a law rooted in common sense, compassion and justice.”

BriggsTodd Rokita went on Fox News and bared his vacant soul

Senate Enrolled Act 404, the abortion permission law, was originally signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2017. Lower courts challenged its constitutionality and the law eventually ended up before the Supreme Court.

When the Supreme Court revoked the constitutional right to an abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade, the state asked the Supreme Court to expedite its ruling on the 2017 law, resulting in Monday's decision to overrule the injunction.

Holcomb's office declined to comment on the decision.

Both cases were brought against the state by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky.

More:Supreme Court throws out lower court ruling over Indiana abortion law

The ACLU of Indiana did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Indiana lawmakers are expected to further restrict abortion in their special legislative session scheduled to begin July 25.

Contact IndyStar reporter Lizzie Kane at ekane@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lizzie_kane17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana abortion laws permitted by U.S. courts