TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida appeals court on Friday ordered the enforcement of a state law that that requires women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion.
The 1st District Court of Appeal lifted an injunction that blocked the waiting period from taking effect. In its decision, the three-judge panel contended that a circuit judge did not have enough facts or evidence to support blocking the law.
Judge Charles Francis had blocked the law one day before the waiting period was scheduled to take effect. Francis is chief judge for the north Florida circuit that includes the state capital.
The waiting period law was passed last year by the Florida Legislature. During last year’s session, abortion was the subject of emotional debate. Democrats complained the bill was simply an effort to put up roadblocks to infringe on women’s rights to an abortion; Republicans said women should have to wait before making such a major decision.
The law has exceptions for victims of rape, incest, domestic abuse or human trafficking if women present their doctors with a police report, restraining order or similar documentation.
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the law on behalf of a Gainesville abortion clinic. The lawsuit argued that the 24-hour waiting period created a burden that violated a right to privacy included in Florida’s constitution.
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AP photo: Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, speaks about the waiting period abortion bill during session, Friday, April 24, 2015, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)
In a perfect world there would be a 24-hour waiting period after taking Viagra to have sex.
and prove that you’re actually having sex with your wife or husband…
It’s death by a thousand cuts with these women-hating clowns. Today, it’s 24 hours. That’s OK with the courts? OK, how about 48 hours? If that flies, they’ll make the waiting period 72 hours.
Eventually, they’ll work the waiting period up to 6480 hours. The women, now full-term, will give birth, and the Republicans can ignore the newborn infants, just like they do every other person who’s already here.
24 hours from what?
Trump: I will extend the waiting period nationwide to 9 months.