Judge declares Iowa fetal heartbeat law unconstitutional

23/1/2019 11:37

                Judge Michael Huppert found the law unconstitutional, concluding that the Iowa Supreme Court's earlier decisions that affirm a woman's fundamental right to an abortion would include the new law passed last year
        
        He also cited several cases in federal court, including decisions in 2015 and 2016 in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that indicated such abortion laws were unconstitutional.
        
        Huppert said prohibiting abortions at the detection of a fetal heartbeat violates "both the due process and equal protection provisions of the Iowa Constitution as not being narrowly tailored to serve the compelling state interest of promoting potential life."
        
        The law would ban an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected. That can happen as early as six weeks into pregnancy.