Florida Supreme Court Rules on Abortion Measures
The Florida Supreme Court made a significant decision on Monday regarding abortion laws in the state. The court ruled that a state constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4, which aims to limit government intervention in abortion procedures in Florida, will be included on the ballots for this November's election. Additionally, the court upheld Florida's 15-week abortion ban in the same ruling.
These rulings were issued in a surprising move as the court typically releases decisions on Thursdays. The decisions were presented in two out-of-calendar opinions.
Amendment 4, proposed by Floridians Protecting Freedoms, a statewide campaign advocating for abortion rights, asserts that individuals in Florida should have the freedom to make personal medical decisions, including those related to abortion, without government interference.
The ballot measure, identified as Amendment 4, will permit abortions before viability while still mandating parental notification if a minor seeks an abortion.
The text of the ballot measure states, "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature's constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion."
For Amendment 4 to be enacted, it must receive at least 60% support from voters.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, had argued against the proposed amendment, taking issue with the word "viability" in the ballot initiative. In a brief filed to the court in November, Moody said, "There is no single formally recognized clinical definition of 'viability.'"
Lawyers representing Floridians Protecting Freedoms argued that "viability" is not ambiguous and that voters understand what it means in the context of an abortion.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
