Senator Dan McCay (Left)
CV NEWS FEED // Pro-life civil leaders in Utah are planning to fight back after the state’s Supreme Court this week upheld a lower court’s order blocking a pro-life law from going into effect, according to a report from Deseret News.
In an Aug. 1 ruling in Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. State of Utah, the Utah Supreme Court upheld a district court’s order blocking the state’s pro-life law from going into effect until the court determines the law’s constitutionality.
According to the Associated Press, the pro-life law prohibits all abortion except if the mother’s life is at risk or if the unborn child has a fatal abnormality, or up to 18 weeks in cases of rape or incest.
After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Judge Andrew Stone granted Planned Parenthood’s request for a temporary injunction to block Utah’s pro-life law from going into effect, according to a July 2022 report from the AP.
Deseret News reported that while this block is in place, abortion in Utah remains legal up to 18 weeks.
According to Deseret News, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes noted that the Court has not yet decided on “the ultimate question in this case–whether the Utah Constitution protects a right to abortion.”
“It does not, just as the federal constitution does not,” Reyes continued, adding that his office will continue its “vigorous defense” of the legislation’s constitutionality as the case goes back to the district court.
In a statement after the Aug. 1 ruling, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson expressed their disappointment in the Supreme Court’s ruling, but added that they “are grateful for the state’s current restriction on abortions after 18 weeks.”
They also expressed their commitment to continue to fight for life, and their hope that the pro-life law will go into effect after the case is resolved.
“Regardless of this outcome, our administration will continue to fight for all Utahns, including the unborn,” they stated.
Deseret News also reported that Utah state Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, stated that he intends to call a special session in the hopes of putting in a placeholder law that moves the restrictions of abortion from 18 weeks down to six until the court issues a final ruling.
