Iowa County Judge Temporarily Blocks Abortion Ban

The Des Moines Register reports:

A Polk County judge has temporarily blocked Iowa’s “fetal heartbeat” law as a court challenge plays out, meaning abortion is again legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the “fetal heartbeat” law at about 2:45 p.m. Friday at the Family Leadership Summit, a gathering of conservative Christians where half a dozen Republican presidential contenders also took the stage.

It took effect immediately, banning nearly all abortions after doctors detect cardiac activity in the embryo. That can occur about six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. Reynolds said Monday she would appeal the ruling.

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The decision comes less than a week after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed new abortion restrictions during a special session.https://t.co/gcSyMJuyyL

— Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) July 17, 2023