Federal Judge Strikes Down Indiana Anti-Abortion Law

The law in question would have singled out abortion providers by requiring invasive and vague reporting.

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(Indianapolis, Ind.) – A 2018 Indiana Anti-Abortion Law has been ruled unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Young struck down the Indiana law on Wednesday that would have singled out abortion providers by requiring invasive and vague reporting.

The decision comes after Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against Senate Enrolled Act 340 in 2018.

SEA 340 would have required health providers to submit a report to the state when a patient seeks treatment for a wide range of health conditions after having an abortion.

Medical providers who failed to submit such a report would have faced criminal penalties and possible jail time.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the American Civil Liberties Union called the law “unnecessary” and a “cruel intimidation tactic”.

Statement from Hannah Brass Greer, chief legal counsel, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky:

“We are pleased the court has realized what we have known all along, that SEA 340 represents excessive government overreach and was designed to restrict Hoosiers access to reproductive health care. This bill should never have passed the state legislature as it has no basis in science and medicine. We deserve more from our elected leaders. In the middle of two public health crises — the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic violence against people of color — Indiana lawmakers should be working together to increase access to care, not trying to restrict it. The reporting requirements set by this law are another attempt by Indiana politicians to shame and stigmatize people seeking abortion services and to spread the myth that abortion is dangerous. At Planned Parenthood, the safety of patients is our top priority; SEA 340 is not about safety. This law is unconstitutional and that is why it was struck down.”