The legal battles still to come as Indiana prepares for the start of a near-total abortion ban

 

INDIANA-- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana is fighting the state’s abortion ban with two separate lawsuits.

One, filed last month, argues the ban violates right to privacy as well as equal privileges protections. It was filed in partnership with Planned Parenthood, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, and other groups.

The first hearing for that lawsuits is Sept. 19, four days after the ban takes effect.

The second lawsuit, filed last week, argues the abortion ban violates Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The legal director for ACLU Indiana, Ken Falk, told ABC57 Wednesday the hearing date for this second lawsuit will be Oct. 14.

The basis for the argument, he said, is not all religious practices hold the belief that life begins at conception. So, he argued not all Hoosiers should be held to the same standard because of its Christian roots.

“We’re dealing with one’s personal autonomy and one’s liberty,” Falk said. “And, the fact that there are persons who believe that human life begins at conception and must be preserved, doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate to write that into law if, in doing so, you’re violating other person’s constitutional and religious rights.”

The ban will impact more than 1.5 million people of reproductive age in our state, according to ACLU Indiana.

Michiana Right to Life claims the ban will limit 95% of abortions currently performed in the state.