States still grappling with legality of protections for unborn

Arizona’s attorney general stated Wednesday that legal protection for unborn children at all stages of gestation can be enforced. But the state’s Republican governor said that the reigning law prevents abortion only after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In Louisiana, a judge has temporarily blocked that state’s protections for the unborn, but the attorney general has warned abortion providers against performing the procedure even while the statute is not in force. Courts on Thursday temporarily halted Kentucky’s pro-life law, as well.

How are abortion providers responding? They are asking courts to temporarily block or permanently overturn trigger laws that took effect in many states when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson on Friday. The decision said the U.S. Constitution does not establish a right to abortion and states may regulate the practice. Fearing prosecution, many facilities have stopped performing abortions as their states debate whether protections for the unborn will remain in effect.

Dig deeper: Read ongoing coverage of the aftereffects of the Dobbs decision at wng.org.