The legal battle over abortion restrictions in Iowa continues as GOP officials began the process of appealing a district court judge’s injunction on the fetal heartbeat bill. On Friday, Attorney General Brenna Bird applied for an interlocutory appeal with the Iowa Supreme Court to reinstate the ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around the sixth week of pregnancy. The law, which does contain exceptions for rape, incest, and severe medical conditions incompatible with life, was passed during a special legislative session earlier this month, but implementation was almost immediately put on hold following a Polk County judge’s ruling. Bird says, “The right to life is the most fundamental right of all. We are taking our defense of Iowa’s Heartbeat Law to the Iowa Supreme Court to allow the law to go back in effect and protect innocent lives. I’m confident that the law is on our side, and we will continue fighting for the right to life in court.” Gov. Kim Reynolds also issued a statement regarding the appeal, saying, “Judge Seidlin stated [last] week that the Iowa Supreme Court left off last month with ‘an invitation to litigate’ further the standard of review on abortion regulations. Invitation or not, I will never stop fighting to protect our unborn children and to uphold state laws enacted by our elected legislators.” As it stands, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, pending further legal review.
Iowa AG Bird Continues Legal Fight Over Iowa’s Heartbeat Bill With Injunction Appeal
