Abortion Fights Move to US States
2022-06-28
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1Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade, the battle for abortion rights has now moved to state courts and legislatures around the country.
2Thirteen American states, mainly in the South and Midwest, had laws ready that would ban abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned.
3Abortion is a medical operation that ends a pregnancy.
4The Guttmacher Institute is an organization that supports abortion rights.
5It says 26 American states are likely to ban abortion now that Roe has been overturned.
6Opponents of abortion rights are now seeking to ban abortion across all 50 states.
7Abortion-rights supporters are trying to block or delay such measures in state courts.
8Many cases center on so-called "trigger laws."
9These are laws that ban abortion but only become enforceable after the overturn of Roe.
10Other legal actions target old anti-abortion state laws that were unenforced under Roe, known as "zombie laws."
11Nancy Northup is head of the Center for Reproductive Rights.
12She said last Friday, "We'll be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day" to argue these cases.
13Brigitte Amiri of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the organization is looking at "all options" to protect access to abortion.
14As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 American states - either because of state laws or questions about them.
15In Louisiana, the state's Republican attorney general wrote Friday on Twitter that the state's "trigger law" was in effect immediately.
16And the three health centers providing abortions in the state closed that day.
17On Monday, abortion rights supporters took legal action hoping to delay the ban in Louisiana.
18They argued that state laws are unclear on when a ban can take effect and what is considered an exception to the law.
19Hours later, a judge in New Orleans temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's trigger law.
20At least one of the state's abortion clinics said it would restart performing abortions on Tuesday.
21In Utah, the state's Planned Parenthood group has challenged a trigger law with narrow exceptions in the state.
22Laura Herner is a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.
23She told The Associated Press that other challenges might argue whether state laws fully and clearly protect the life or health of a pregnant woman.
24Although the high court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights supporters argue that some state constitutions protect the right.
25In Florida, abortion rights supporters asked a judge to block a new state law that bans abortions after 15 weeks, with few exceptions.
26The law is set to take effect this week.
27The ACLU of Florida has argued that it violates the Florida Constitution.
28In another legal action, a Jewish group said the Florida law conflicts with the separation of church and state.
29And the ACLU of Arizona and an abortion-rights group are seeking to block a 2021 state law they worry can be used to halt all abortions.
30Abortion rights supporters are also looking into bans under "zombie laws" now that there is no federal protection for abortion.
31For example, the state of Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother.
32Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe the law is enforceable.
33But abortion opponents have called on state lawmakers to establish a new ban.
34In Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood said the state immediately suspended all abortions, even though law enforcement officials suggested that they would not enforce the ban.
35In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last week's Supreme Court ruling.
36In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the state's constitution.
37Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control.
38Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have passed laws that permit people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions.
39A bounty is an amount of money given to someone as a reward for catching a criminal.
40These laws have raised questions over whether people can be followed across state lines under the law.
41Legal challenges are also likely to come up in cases of abortion medicine sent to patients.
42The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to protect abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments put in place by other states.
43And in Massachusetts, Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order Friday barring state agencies from helping other states' investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts.
44I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week to overturn Roe v. Wade, the battle for abortion rights has now moved to state courts and legislatures around the country. 2Thirteen American states, mainly in the South and Midwest, had laws ready that would ban abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned. 3Abortion is a medical operation that ends a pregnancy. 4The Guttmacher Institute is an organization that supports abortion rights. It says 26 American states are likely to ban abortion now that Roe has been overturned. Opponents of abortion rights are now seeking to ban abortion across all 50 states. 5Abortion-rights supporters are trying to block or delay such measures in state courts. Many cases center on so-called "trigger laws." These are laws that ban abortion but only become enforceable after the overturn of Roe. Other legal actions target old anti-abortion state laws that were unenforced under Roe, known as "zombie laws." 6Nancy Northup is head of the Center for Reproductive Rights. She said last Friday, "We'll be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day" to argue these cases. 7Brigitte Amiri of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the organization is looking at "all options" to protect access to abortion. 8Questions on "trigger laws" 9As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 American states - either because of state laws or questions about them. 10In Louisiana, the state's Republican attorney general wrote Friday on Twitter that the state's "trigger law" was in effect immediately. And the three health centers providing abortions in the state closed that day. 11On Monday, abortion rights supporters took legal action hoping to delay the ban in Louisiana. They argued that state laws are unclear on when a ban can take effect and what is considered an exception to the law. Hours later, a judge in New Orleans temporarily blocked enforcement of the state's trigger law. At least one of the state's abortion clinics said it would restart performing abortions on Tuesday. 12In Utah, the state's Planned Parenthood group has challenged a trigger law with narrow exceptions in the state. 13Laura Herner is a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She told The Associated Press that other challenges might argue whether state laws fully and clearly protect the life or health of a pregnant woman. 14Although the high court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights supporters argue that some state constitutions protect the right. 15In Florida, abortion rights supporters asked a judge to block a new state law that bans abortions after 15 weeks, with few exceptions. The law is set to take effect this week. 16The ACLU of Florida has argued that it violates the Florida Constitution. 17In another legal action, a Jewish group said the Florida law conflicts with the separation of church and state. 18And the ACLU of Arizona and an abortion-rights group are seeking to block a 2021 state law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. 19What about zombie laws? 20Abortion rights supporters are also looking into bans under "zombie laws" now that there is no federal protection for abortion. 21For example, the state of Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe the law is enforceable. But abortion opponents have called on state lawmakers to establish a new ban. 22In Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood said the state immediately suspended all abortions, even though law enforcement officials suggested that they would not enforce the ban. 23In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last week's Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the state's constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. 24Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have passed laws that permit people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. A bounty is an amount of money given to someone as a reward for catching a criminal. 25These laws have raised questions over whether people can be followed across state lines under the law. Legal challenges are also likely to come up in cases of abortion medicine sent to patients. 26The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to protect abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments put in place by other states. 27And in Massachusetts, Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order Friday barring state agencies from helping other states' investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. 28I'm Bryan Lynn. 29The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. 30_______________________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32option - n. a choice or possibility 33access - n. a way of getting at, near or to something 34challenge - v. to question the action or authority