The US Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated Idaho's strict abortion law. Yesterday, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court scheduled a hearing on the main case for April. The state has one of the strictest abortion laws in the United States.
In June, a controversial Supreme Court ruling nullified the fundamental right to abortion that existed across the US and placed responsibility for access to abortion in the hands of each state.
In doing so, the court has de facto transformed large parts of the country into areas where abortion is nearly impossible. As a result, many conservatively governed states have completely or almost completely restricted the possibility of abortion.
US government lawsuit
In Idaho, a regulation was introduced that almost completely prohibits women from having an abortion – unless the woman's life is in immediate danger. Even if there is a risk to the mother's health, abortion should not be permitted.
The government of US President Joe Biden sued in Washington against this and was partially successful. A federal judge blocked part of the law. Under federal law, hospital doctors are required to perform abortions in medical emergencies for women insured by the state health insurance company Medicare.
The Supreme Court has now temporarily lifted this restriction while the appeal process before the Supreme Court is ongoing. Biden then said the Supreme Court ruling “allows Idaho’s extreme abortion ban to be reinstated.” This also denies women emergency abortions, which are possible under federal law.