TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A 24-hour abortion waiting period bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this month is not yet being enforced. Opponents of the legislation on Wednesday tried to stop the law before it takes effect.
The Tallahassee judge presiding over the case said he expects to make a ruling on an injunction soon.
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The American Civil Liberties Union, representing a Gainesville clinic, said the law infringes on a woman's constitutional right to privacy and creates an unnecessary burden.
"The state believes you would benefit by taking another day for you to think this over. We don't do this for any other medical procedure," said Renee Paradis, a Reproductive Freedom Project attorney. "This is about the state wanting to dissuade women from getting abortions."
Attorneys for the state disagree. They say lawmakers have a right to protect the interests of an unborn child.
"I don't think there was anything, as we pointed out, that the Legislature did that they didn't have every right to do on behalf (of), as we say, the vulnerable class of pregnant women and also on behalf of the fetuses," State Special Counsel Blaine Winship said.
The new law is set to go into effect on July 1.
"Women are calling up the clinic, (and) the clinics are saying, 'We're not sure. As of July 1, it may be that you're going to have to make two trips to the clinic.' So I think there are a lot of women who are really uncertain how it will affect their lives," Paradis said.
The governor didn't waiver from his stance earlier this week.
"I signed the law because I believe in it and I'm absolutely pro-life," Scott said.
Plaintiffs assume that the looming law will ultimately be settled in the state's Supreme Court.