Appeals court reinstates Tennessee abortion waiting period
April 24, 2021
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A federal appeals court has reinstated a 48-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions in Tennessee as the state appeals a judge s ruling in the case.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling Friday in a case that stems from a challenge to a 2015 law in Tennessee that required women to make two trips to an abortion clinic first for mandatory counseling and then for the abortion at least 48 hours later.
Directors of Tennessee abortion clinics testified at a 2019 trial that the two-visit requirement posed logistical challenges that caused abortions to be delayed far beyond the 48 hours required by law. The delay pushed some women beyond the time when they could have medication abortions, which have lower risks of complications than surgical abortions. A few women were pushed beyond the time when they could receive an abortion altogether.
A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the mandatory waiting period to immediately take effect Friday. Author: WBIR Staff Updated: 10:48 PM EDT April 23, 2021
TENNESSEE, USA People who need an abortion will have to wait 48 hours in Tennessee starting Friday, after a decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The decision went into effect immediately, according to a release from officials.
A federal court struck down the waiting period law in October 2020, and the state s appeal of that decision is still pending. The Sixth Circuit Court decided Friday to suspend the federal court s decision while the appeal remains pending.
A three-judge panel of the appellate court also previously denied the state s request in February.
Supreme Court Ducks Emergency Appeal in Tennessee Abortion Case
State s 48-hour waiting period is reinstated amid ongoing legal battle WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Pro-life activists try to block the sign of a pro-choice activist during the 2018 March for Life January 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. Activists gathered in the nation s capital for the annual event to protest the anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in 1973. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Kevin Daley • April 23, 2021 7:30 pm
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A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated Tennessee s 48-hour waiting period for abortions, which a federal trial judge said was unconstitutional.
April 24, 2021 - 1:44 PM
NASHVILLE - A federal appeals court has reinstated a 48-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions in Tennessee as the state appeals a judge s ruling in the case.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling Friday in a case that stems from a challenge to a 2015 law in Tennessee that required women to make two trips to an abortion clinic â first for mandatory counselling and then for the abortion at least 48 hours later.
Directors of Tennessee abortion clinics testified at a 2019 trial that the two-visit requirement posed logistical challenges that caused abortions to be delayed far beyond the 48 hours required by law. The delay pushed some women beyond the time when they could have medication abortions, which have lower risks of complications than surgical abortions. A few women were pushed beyond the time when they could receive an abortion altogether.