SW News: In what is seen as a pro-life move, a judge in the American state of Nebraska dismissed a bid to prevent the ban on abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy from coming into effect. Judge Lori Maret of the Lancaster County District Court ruled that the law passed by the state legislature earlier this year would remain in place.

Nebraska’s law states that no pregnancy can be terminated after the 12th week except in cases of rape, incest or if the health of the mother is in peril. The law also seeks to prohibit adolescents under 19 from undergoing gender-affirming surgery. It will also prevent the use of hormone therapies and puberty blockers for minor children.

After the law was passed, pro-choice Planned Parenthood of the Heartland challenged it in court by arguing that lawmakers went against the constitutional requirement that legislation should not contain more than one subject. They alleged that the abortion ban was added to an already existing bill that deals with gender care.

However, the state attorney general said in the court that the issues did not flout the rule as both issues mentioned in the law were related to health. Hailing the ruling of the court, Governor Jim Pellen said, “I am grateful for the court’s thorough decision. I was proud to sign into law a measure that protects kids and defends the unborn, and I am pleased that it has been upheld.”
Soon after the verdict came last week, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska Mindy Rush Chipman said they were going to appeal the ruling.

Lawmakers of Nebraska added clauses curbing abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy to a bill related to transgenders as an amendment when another legislation to prohibit abortions after six weeks of gestation failed to tide over a filibuster.