LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s two abortion providers and a doctor have filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court, challenging two abortion bans. 

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky's two abortion providers and a doctor have filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court, challenging two abortion bans

  • The lawsuit was filed three days after a U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade, which led to an immediate ban on the procedure in Kentucky because of a so-called "trigger law" from 2019

  • The suit claims the 2019 law and another ban “violate Sections One and Two of the Commonwealth’s Constitution by infringing on Plaintiffs’ patients’ rights to privacy and self-determination.”

  • EMW Women’s Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood say their Louisville facilities remain open and are offering other services

They filed the lawsuit three days after a U.S. Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade, which led to an immediate ban on the procedure in Kentucky because of a so-called “trigger law” from 2019. 

“In Kentucky, we have expressed the value that we want to stand up and protect the lives of the unborn,” Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R, Kentucky) said Friday. “I think that is a position to be proud of. “

The suit claims the 2019 law and another ban “violate Sections One and Two of the Commonwealth’s Constitution by infringing on Plaintiffs’ patients’ rights to privacy and self-determination.” 

Kentucky State Director Tamarra Wieder says Planned Parenthood’s Louisville health center — one of only two places in Kentucky where someone could previously go for an abortion — remains open for other services.

“We’ve had three days without abortion care in Kentucky and this will be the law of the land, moving forward, unless we’re able to find pathways to regain our agency,” she said. 

The center is working to connect patients seeking an abortion to other states; she said. 

“Because we knew this was coming, we have shifted into a navigation element to our work that we ... think about like case workers,” she said. “Making sure that our patients have somebody to talk to and work them through all the steps on how they can access an abortion in Illinois, for example, and making sure that they have all the things in place and ready to do so.”

EMW Women’s Surgical Center in Louisville said in a post on Facebook that it remains open and will continue to provide other services. 

Spectrum News 1 left a message with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office about the lawsuit. 

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