TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court accepted a request by abortion providers today to hear arguments in their case against House Bill 5 (HB 5), a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The move comes after several court rulings closed off meaningful legal avenues to block the law. While providers’ request for the court to hear arguments in the case was granted, the justices declined to immediately block HB 5 while the lawsuit proceeds, leaving the ban in place for now. The court will schedule oral arguments in a separate order.
Below is Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s Statement in Response:
I’m glad to see the courts not completely close their doors, but it is deeply disappointing to allow House Bill 5 to remain in effect. This 15 week abortion ban was already deemed unconstitutional by a local judge and yet the people of Florida continue to have their rights stripped away from us. The impact of this law has been devastating and has forced people to leave the state for abortion care. It’s inhumane, un-American and the opposite of freedom. We will continue to fight for reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy no matter what.
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