(9-15-22) — Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins has temporarily blocked Ohio’s ban on virtually all abortions Wednesday, pausing a law that took effect after federal abortion protections were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June.

The decision means abortions through 20 weeks’ gestation can continue for now, in keeping with state law in place before the ban.

Democrat Ohio Governor candidate Nan Whaley–

“…a victory, albeit a temporary one, for Ohio women. Ohio women won’t be safe until we have a pro-choice governor who doesn’t seek to impose extreme views like government mandates against private health care decisions.”

A joint-statement from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, the ACLU, ACLU of Ohio, Preterm-Cleveland, Women’s Med Group Professional Corporation, Northeast Ohio Women’s Center, Toledo Women’s Center, and Dr. Sharon Liner read:

“We’re grateful that, for now, Ohioans can once again widely access abortion care in their own state. But this is just the first step. We have already seen the devastating impact Senate Bill 23 has had on people seeking abortions in Ohio. State lawmakers will stop at nothing to try again to permanently restrict our reproductive rights; their cruelty knows no bounds. We remain intensely committed to defending against any and all attempts to limit Ohioans’ constitutional right to access the full range of reproductive health care in their home state.”

Laura Strietmann, executive director for Right to Life in Cincinnati

“We knew we would be at this again, this is a pivotal time in history. There is no gray area in regards to abortion. Women are panicking. They are hearing so many confusing messages in the culture,” she said. “The pause now allows abortions up to 20 weeks. He was saying that it’s OK for a mother to execute her pre-born child halfway through gestation and that is completely tragic. We are not talking about a medical procedure that saves lives and helps anyone, we are talking about tragedy.”

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