Indiana abortion ban takes effect after state Supreme Court rejects appeal

The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday denied an appeal from the ACLU and Planned Parenthood to block the state's abortion ban, allowing the restrictions to take immediate effect.

Indiana's ban allows for limited exceptions, but ranks among the "most restrictive" nationwide, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The state's top court ruled 4-1 on Monday to deny the request from the pro-abortion groups to rehear its earlier decision, The Hill reported. In late July, the groups had asked that the court clarify the ban's exception for threats to the life of the mother.

The ban took effect upon the court's decision, though the state's clinics had stopped offering the procedure at the start of August.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita celebrated the decision, saying "Great news! The Indiana Supreme Court denied the ACLU's and Planned Parenthood’s last-second, desperate petition for rehearing to stop Indiana’s pro-life law. This is another win for the lives of the unborn."

"My office promised to defend Indiana's pro-life law, and we have done that every step of the way," he continued. "Today, the Indiana Supreme Court certified its opinion rejecting a constitutional challenge to Indiana’s pro-life law, which protects the lives of innocent, unborn babies. This is great news for Hoosier life and liberty. We defeated the pro-death advocates who try to interject their views in a state that clearly voted for life.

The ACLU meanwhile, lamented the decision, with Indiana Executive Director Jane Henegar saying, "Today is a dark day in Indiana’s history, as a near-total abortion ban takes effect. We have seen the horrifying impact of bans like this across the country, and the narrow exceptions included in this extreme ban will undoubtedly put Hoosiers’ lives at risk."

Indiana is one of roughly one-third of U.S. states that almost completely banned abortion in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision. The issue remains intensely divisive and numerous Democratic-led states have moved to protect access to abortion.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.