The US Supreme Court rejects an appeal from North Dakota's bid to save strict abortion law. The toughest legislation in the country, which is the Fetal Heartbeat Law has been blocked permanently after the US Supreme Court trashed to review a lower court's ruling that overturned the legislation.
In 2013, the Fetal Heartbeat Law was passed. It intends to make abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is about six weeks into the pregnancy. The US Supreme Court refused to review the law and found the restriction unconstitutional, as reported by the NPR. The Fetal Heartbeat Law never took effect, and pro-abortion said it was the toughest law against abortion in the country.
The US Supreme Court junked an appeal from state officials in Arkansas who wanted to restore a similar Fetal Heartbeat Law. Earlier this month, NBC News reported that the lower courts also blocked banning abortions after about 12 weeks of pregnancy. Three panels of judges, which was appointed by President George W. Bush, unanimously voted against the law.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem knew it was unlikely and the refusal to review the proposal came as no surprise. ABC News reported that the US Supreme Court gets about 7,500 requests but only take less than 100 cases each year. Stenehjem added that it was a longshot, and it is the end of their litigation on the issue of abortion. Even the people who are pro-life or individuals who are against abortion agree that there isn't much more they can do at this point.
The US Court of Appeals said that good reasons exist for the US Supreme Court to review cases like abortion. The Eight Circuit said that the continued application of the Supreme Court's viability standard discounts the legislative branch's recognized interest in protecting unborn children.
Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court will also decide if they will block or allow another abortion law during this current court term. The Texas law is one of the legislation which the Court is now reviewing. The Texas law requires abortion facilities to comport to the same establishment standard as surgical centers. The state also requires physicians performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The justices will review this law by March and a decision is expected by late April.
