Heartbeat Bill temporarily blocked in Ohio; ACLU to seek further legal action

Members from both sides are making their voices heard after a court ruling temporarily blocked Ohio’s Heartbeat Law Wednesday.

The law makes abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy.

The law went into effect in June after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this summer.

In late August the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio joined several organizations to legally fight the Heartbeat Law.

Wednesday a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judge granted the restraining order, allowing abortions after six weeks to be legal until Sept. 28.

“This is truly a great day. Clinics are now able lawfully to open up to provide abortions as they did before the heartbeat bill became into effect,” Freda Levenson, director of ACLU of Ohio said.

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The ACLU along with other groups in the lawsuit will now push for a preliminary injunction to block the law while the lawsuit plays out in court.

“What we achieved today was temporary relief, a TRO. We’re going to be asking the court to convert that a preliminary relief, which is a longer lasting temporary relief and then ultimately we’re going to be seeking permanent relief,” Levenson said.

News Center 7 reached out to Dayton Right to Life for a response to the ruling but did not hear back at the time of reporting. Gov. Mike DeWine has also not answered requests for a comment.

Ohio Right to Life issued a statement on their website that said in part:

“We are more than confident that the heartbeat law will go back into effect relatively soon. Further, we can assure pro-life Ohio that in the near future Ohio will become abortion free, regardless of what this local judge ruled today.”

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