TOLEDO, Ohio — The U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. The move was highly anticipated and many expected Ohio to be among the first states to move to ban or severely restrict abortion.
Late Friday, a federal court judge in Columbus dissolved an injunction on a 2019 law that would severely restrict abortion in Ohio, clearing the path for the so-called Heartbeat Bill to become law.
In 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine signed that bill banning abortions once a heartbeat is detected. It would prohibit abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant.
However, the law was blocked by a federal judge because, at the time, opponents suing to stop the Heartbeat Bill claimed it was unconstitutional because Roe v. Wade was the law of the land.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Ohio, and Planned Parenthood brought the 2019 lawsuit on behalf of Preterm-Cleveland and other abortion clinics in the state.
With the Friday U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Roe, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost went to court and asked the judge to allow the Heartbeat Bill to become law.
This is a developing story. We will update it as we learn more.
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