Activist judges are attempting to undo the life-affirming Dobbs opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade. It took us nearly 50 years to overturn Roe, and Liberty Counsel’s powerful amicus brief helped win that case. But with activist state judges, the fight for life is not over. Liberty Counsel is gearing up for yet more legal battles to protect the unborn. I’ll explain what has happened, and what we must do now. Read on. —Mat

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The reign of Roe v. Wade ended Friday, June 24, 2022, with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Liberty Counsel’s amicus brief overviewing the eugenic and racist history and purpose of abortion was cited by the Court in the opinion. As expected, however, activity in the states has ramped up as abortion clinics and activist groups began contesting state abortion bans.

To date, judges in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Utah have temporarily blocked abortion “trigger laws” or slowed their implementation. Abortion trigger laws are state laws on the books that were designed to become effective as soon as Roe was overturned. Other states have pre-Roe laws that have come back into effect now that Roe has been overturned. The battle has clearly intensified in every state.

A Louisiana court blocked a trigger law Monday. A hearing in the case is set for July 8. The same day, a Utah judge temporarily blocked the state’s abortion ban with a hearing set for July.

A Texas judge temporarily blocked the state’s pre-Roe abortion ban. Abortions in Texas are already banned after approximately six weeks’ gestation. A separate “trigger law” will go into effect in the state in a few weeks.

Lawsuits over trigger bans have also been filed in Kentucky, Idaho and Mississippi. The ban in Mississippi, where the Dobbs case overturned Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, will soon take effect. A Kentucky judge blocked the state’s trigger law.

A Florida judge blocked the state’s 15-week abortion ban that was set to go into effect July 1. This challenge will present a mirror image to the Dobbs case as it presents an opportunity to have the Florida Supreme Court reverse In re: T.W., a terrible activist decision from 1989 that ruled Article I, Section 23 of the Florida Constitution provides a right to abortion.  

After Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three new Justices to the Florida Supreme Court, a super majority of the Court is now originalist, not activist, in judicial philosophy.

Wisconsin’s Democrat attorney general filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the state’s pre-Roe law.

All this happened in the first week after the Dobbs decision. Our work defending life has exponentially increased.

Help Liberty Counsel SAVE THE BABIES!

In federal courts, judges in South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Alabama have allowed state abortion bans to be reinstated.

As of the start of June, nine states had pre-Roe abortion bans in place: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Thirteen have trigger laws: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Four have passed an amendment declaring their state constitution does not secure or protect a right to abortion or allow use of public funds: Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia. Kansas has a similar state constitutional amendment on the ballot later this year.

In light of the historic win overturning Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court, the fight to protect human life will greatly intensify. This is a historic opportunity that we have worked to achieve over many decades. Liberty Counsel is engaged at all levels across the country to protect the sanctity of human life and end the terrible scourge of abortion.

We need YOUR help to finish this fight! Please prayerfully consider making a recurring monthly donation to our legal fund. When you do, a generous Challenge Grant will match that donation every month. Help us fight for LIFE.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing to eliminate the filibuster and make abortion on demand the law of our land. Schumer only needs two more votes to achieve his life-ending goal. We need YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW to stop this travesty. Tell them to PROTECT LIFE AND END ABORTION!

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

P.S. Sign our petition to governors and senators to Protect Life and End Abortion.

SOURCES:

“In the Supreme Court of the United States.” Liberty Counsel. Accessed June 29, 2022. Lc.org/PDFs/Attachments2PRsLAs/07262119-1392DobbsvJackson_AmiciBriefInSupportofPetitioners.pdf.

“SCOTUS Overturns Roe v. Wade.” Liberty Counsel, June 24, 2022. Lc.org/newsroom/details/062422-scotus-overturns-roe-v-wade.