Supreme Court to hear abortion waiting period case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Supreme Court said Thursday it will take up a dispute about whether to block a 2015 law that calls for women to wait 24 hours before having abortions.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, issued an order agreeing to hear the case.

Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and James E.C. Perry supported accepting the case, while justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston dissented.

Abortion-rights supporters asked the Supreme Court in March to hear the case.

A Leon County circuit judge last year issued an injunction that blocked the state from carrying out the controversial waiting-period law.

But the 1st District Court of Appeal in February overturned that decision, prompting the request for the Supreme Court to decide the matter.

Last month, by the same 5-2 split, the Supreme Court approved a stay of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruling, at least temporarily halting the waiting-period requirement as justices weighed whether to take up the broader injunction issue.

As is common, Thursday's order did not explain the Supreme Court's reasons for agreeing to hear the case.

The court also did not immediately set a date for oral arguments.