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Utah’s pro-life “trigger law” goes into effect. Planned Parenthood no longer performing abortions

Jun 27, 2022

By Dave Andrusko

Happily, Utah joined the ranks of states banning abortion, except in very limited circumstances, as a  result of Friday’s Supreme Court 5-1-3 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and Casey. The law “went into effect Friday after the Legislature’s general counsel certified that the Supreme Court decision met the legal requirements for triggering it,” Becky Jacobs reported.

The same day, Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said in a statement, “We wholeheartedly support this Supreme Court ruling and are encouraged to see abortion law will be left to elected state representatives. As pro-life advocates, this administration is equally committed to supporting women and families in Utah. We all need to do more to support mothers, pregnant women, and children facing poverty and trauma.” 

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes told  the Salt Lake Tribune on Friday that Supreme Court ruling was “clear,” adding that he would be ready to defend the trigger law against legal action.

“It has returned the question of abortion to the states. And the Utah legislature has answered that question,” Reyes said in the statement. “My office will do its duty to defend the state law against any and all potential legal challenges.”

The first “legal challenge” came when, to the surprise of no one, Parenthood of Utah filing a lawsuit Saturday asking for a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief to prevent enforcement of the law. The lawsuit in Utah takes the position that “the state ban violates several provisions in the State Constitution, including the right to determine family compassion and the right to equality between the sexes,” according to the New York Times.

The “trigger law,” SB 174, was passed by the Utah Legislature in 2020.  Under its provisions, Utah “has outlawed abortion, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the woman,” becoming “one of eight states to have an abortion ban take effect on Friday after the court rescinded the constitutional right to an abortion,” the Times reported. More states bans are expected to take effect in the coming days and weeks.

Categories: State Legislation
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