Indiana May Not Enforce ‘Dismemberment’ Abortion Ban

Indiana may not, for now, enforce a law banning dilation and evacuation abortions, the most-commonly used procedure for terminating pregnancies in the second trimester.

Abortion provider Caitlin Bernard demonstrated “an exceptionally high likelihood of success” on her claim that HEA 1211 imposes an undue burden on women seeking previability abortions after 13 weeks’ gestation, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana said June 28.

Every federal court to have considered the constitutionality of state laws prohibiting D&E abortions—or what the laws call “dismemberment” abortions—have blocked their enforcement as violating the 14th Amendment’s due process clause, Judge Sarah ...