On Monday Planned Parenthood and the ACLU asked U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the State of Arkansas from enforcing Act 309 of 2021.
Act 309 generally prohibits abortion in Arkansas except in cases when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. The law passed with overwhelming support from the state legislature earlier this year, and it is slated to take effect July 28.
Last month pro-abortion groups filed a lawsuit against the state over Act 309.
Now those groups want Judge Baker to issue a restraining order that will block the law before it goes into effect next month.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker has consistently ruled in favor of the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. However, the judges above her at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals have overturned some of her bad rulings in the past.
In light of that, while it seems likely that she will issue a temporary restraining order against Arkansas’ pro-life law, the Eighth Circuit may not agree with her decision once it is appealed.
In the long run, this lawsuit will give federal courts an opportunity to reverse decades of bad case law on abortion — including possibly overturning or Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and other pro-abortion decisions.
That means there is potential for some significant, pro-life victories down the road.
