Ohio Abortion Ban Nixed by Judge Due to Constitution Change (1)

An Ohio judge on Thursday permanently struck down a state law that effectively banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, saying it directly conflicts with a constitutional amendment voters passed last year to enshrine reproductive rights.

The state previously acknowledged the the amendment’s passage spelled doom for the “heartbeat” ban, which prohibited abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected.

But Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian A. Jenkins, a Democrat, also struck down several other provisions made into law through the bill that led to the ban in his 46-page ruling. This includes reporting requirements, criminal penalties for performing ...