LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Abortion remains legal in Kentucky, while Attorney General Daniel Cameron works to get the state's highest court to reinstate bans on the procedure. Here’s a look at developments related to the bans since the reversal of Roe v. Wade:
FRIDAY
Friday, June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it had reversed Roe v. Wade, ending the federal protection of abortion.
Cameron said that meant a 2019 Kentucky law — what some have called a “trigger ban” on abortion — would immediately go into effect.
After the decision was announced, Cameron said, “We will bind up the wounds Roe has caused and help heal those who carry scars from that option.”
Abortion providers, including EMW Women’s Surgical Center, which had more than a dozen patients in the waiting room when the SCOTUS decision came down, halted the procedures, the ACLU of Kentucky said.
MONDAY
Monday, June 27, EMW, Planned Parenthood, and a doctor sued in Jefferson Circuit Court, challenging the 2019 law and another ban.
WEDNESDAY
In a hearing Wednesday, June 29, Judge Mitch Perry heard arguments on behalf of the abortion providers and of the Attorney General.
“For 150 years, Kentucky’s highest court and its General Assembly has recognized the state’s right to preclude and prohibit abortion,” argued Christopher Thacker, representing the attorney general’s office.
Afer the hearing, Heather Gatnarek, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky, said, “The laws that the Kentucky General Assembly has passed banning abortions are unconstitutional and should be blocked.”
THURSDAY
Thursday, June 30, Judge Perry granted the clinics’ request for a temporary restraining order on the bans, clearing the way for abortions to continue.
Tamarra Wieder, state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates called it a “victory, even if temporary,” and said abortion services would continue.
Later that day, Cameron asked a higher court to put the bans back, writing, “no harm could be more irreparable than the human lives lost if abortions now prohibited by law resume.” He argued that was “no conceivable basis” for blocking enforcement of the laws.
FRIDAY
In their response to Cameron in the Kentucky Court of Appeals, attorneys for abortion providers said his request was “procedurally improper” and argued that the court does not have jurisdiction to consider his motion.
Cameron also filed a "writ of mandamus and prohibition" and that will be assigned a three-Judge panel of the Court
SATURDAY
The Court of Appeals denied Attorney General Cameron’s motion to undo the restraining order granted in Jefferson Circuit Court. Abortion remains legal in Kentucky. He responded to the ruling on Twitter.
ACLU spokesperson Samuel Crankshaw sent Spectrum News 1 a statement that said, "We're glad to see the Court of Appeals agrees the lower court has taken proper emergency action to protect abortion access. Kentucky's abortion bans remain blocked and abortion remains legal in Kentucky. The state constitution protects Kentuckians' rights to privacy, bodily autonomy, and self-determination. We'll continue arguing this in court to preserve Kentuckians' essential right to healthcare. This win is temporary, but we won't back down in the fight to defend Kentuckians' most basic rights from extremist politicians like Daniel Cameron."
SUNDAY
Daniel Cameron, after being denied by the Court of Appeals, filed a Writ of Mandamus and Prohibition with the Supreme Court of Kentucky. It seeks again to undo the temporary restraining order granted on Thursday, June 30.
“We are exhausting every possible avenue to have Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law reinstated,” Cameron said in a news release. “There is no more important issue than protecting life, and we are urging the state’s highest court to consider our request for emergency relief.”
Abortion remains legal in Kentucky.
NEXT WEEK
Another hearing is set for Wednesday, July 6 in Jefferson Circuit Court, where Judge Perry will hear evidence on a motion for a temporary injunction on the bans.