David Y. Igé | ATG Press Release: Hawaii Attorney General Connors Joins Fellow Attorneys General in Protecting Reproductive Rights

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general led by Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring to file an amicus brief in Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Wilson arguing that South Carolina’s “fetal heartbeat” abortion regulations are hurting women’s health care as a whole and that a lower court ruling blocking the law should be upheld. Additionally, the coalition argues that the collective impact of many states across the country enacting restrictive abortion laws, or eliminating access to abortion, is hurting health care nationwide.

“South Carolina law is unconstitutional under Supreme Court precedent because it effectively prohibits abortion after six weeks of pregnancy,” Attorney General Clare Connors said. “By joining this amicus brief, we call on the courts to follow a long-standing legal authority that prevents devastating consequences for women’s health.”

In February 2021, South Carolina passed the South Carolina Fetal Heart Rate and Abortion Protection Act, which prohibits abortions if an embryonic or fetal heart rhythm is detected, thereby banning the abortion of an unviable fetus. Immediately after the law was passed, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic sued for a temporary injunction, which the federal district court granted.

In their amicus brief, the coalition argues that access to a safe and legal abortion is an essential part of women’s health care and that restrictive abortion laws, such as the South Carolina Rhythm Act fetal heart disease and abortion protection lead to worse health outcomes in women. The coalition also argues that laws prohibiting abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected have adverse spillover effects on the treatment of miscarriages and other health care needs.

Further, in the amicus brief, Attorney General Connors and colleagues argue that the restrictions the law places on women could also threaten residents of neighboring states as well as the health systems of those states, explaining, “The laws South Carolina restrictions on abortion seek abortion care in [neighboring states], potentially straining their health systems. The coalition adds: “[g]given that many states across the country have enacted legislation that is just as restrictive or more restrictive than South Carolina law…[and] [i]If access to safe and legal abortions were prohibited in large geographic areas of the country, it would create vast “abortion deserts” in which access to abortion care might be unobtainable for many people. because of the obstacles created by the absolute distance of legal abortion care. “

Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode join Attorneys General Connors and Herring in filing today’s amicus brief. Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.

A copy of the Amicus Brief can be found here.

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