On Friday, the US Supreme Court decided to tear up “Roe against Wade”, whose decision is the basis for national abortion law in the United States.
The 1973 decision led to abortion up to week 24 being considered a constitutional right and contrary to US state laws to make it illegal.
Prior to the decision in the court, 13 states in the United States already had a so-called trigger law that was ready to enter into force when the decision to repeal “Roe against Wade” came.
Prohibition of abortion directly with the decision
In the states of Kentucky and Louisiana, among others, abortion bans therefore came into force immediately. In Kentucky and Louisiana, a person who wants to perform an abortion is now at risk of up to five years and ten years, respectively, as well as a fine. Exceptions exist if the person carrying the child risks his or her life.
However, this does not mean that every state with a trigger law automatically imposes an abortion ban immediately. In Tennessee and Idaho, among other places, the law enters into force after 30 days from the Supreme Court’s decision.
In Wyoming and Utah, the law takes effect as soon as each state’s legislator approves the law.
Clinics started closing down
In a number of states without a trigger law, other older laws may come into force. This is the case in, among other places, democracy-ruled Wisconsin, where the state’s democratic public prosecutor is now working to ensure that the more than hundred-year-old law before “Roe mot Wade” – which bans abortion – does not enter into force.
On Friday, abortion clinics in several of these states also announced that they were stopping all planned abortions. In Kentucky and Arkansas, among others, the abortion clinics’ decisions are linked to the new laws, while in Arizona abortion clinics decided that it was not safe to perform abortions as the law is not established before “Roe against Wade”, which prohibits abortion, applies and staff can then risk imprisonment.
Wants to arrange a shelter for the right to abortion
It is far from all states that will introduce an abortion ban. Several states have their own laws that protect the right to abortion. Among other things, the California governor has promised to fight for the state to be aborted through a new piece of legislation that will protect clinics and people who perform abortions in California.
In the context of today’s Supreme Court ruling, which jeopardizes the health and safety of millions of women across the country, California will do everything in its power to protect the fundamental rights of all women in California and beyond, sade State Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday.