Planned Parenthood seeks injunction on SD abortion law
June 26, 2011
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Planned Parenthood on Monday asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction to prevent a new South Dakota abortion law from taking effect while it’s being challenged in court.
Chief Judge Karen Schreier took the arguments under advisement and said she would issue a ruling later.
The law, which would take effect Friday, requires women seeking abortions to face a three-day waiting period and undergo counseling at pregnancy help centers that discourage abortion.
The lawsuit says the law violates a woman’s constitutional right to abortion established under the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
Supporters of the measure say the Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls gives women little information or counseling before they undergo abortions. They say the bill would help make sure women are not being coerced into abortions by boyfriends or relatives.
Planned Parenthood Attorney Mimi Liu argued that the law was passed not to avoid coercion but to further restrict and put undue obstacles in front of women’s access to a legal procedure.
Deputy Attorney General John Guhin argued that Planned Parenthood hasn’t presented any evidence that the law would further restrict a woman’s access to abortion, and the state’s goal of preventing coercion is perfectly acceptable.