Multiple abortion bans were set to automatically take effect in the state of Louisiana if the Supreme Court were to ever overturn Roe V. Wade, which it did on Friday. The automatic law is known as “trigger laws” that several states across the country also have in place.
In Louisiana, 3 state laws that would ultimately ban all abortions on Monday have been blocked by Judge Robin Giarrusoo who issued the temporary block shortly after abortion providers in the state filed a lawsuit, according to the order.
Abortion groups, represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, argue the abortion restrictions violate providers’ due process rights and “lack constitutionally required safeguards to prevent arbitrary enforcement.”
Judge Giarrusso has scheduled a hearing for the lawsuit on July 8. The court will then make a final decision on whether to continue the stay. For the time being, despite the “trigger laws”, abortion in Louisiana remains legal.
Louisiana’s trigger laws would prohibit abortions in all cases except when the mother faces death or serious injury. The laws include no exceptions for rape or incest.
Several other states also have “trigger laws” in place that would immediately ban abortions including Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Alabama.