Reproductive Freedom
Cameron v. EMW Women’s Surgical Center
Cameron v. EMW Women’s Surgical Center
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Decided
In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kentucky filed a suit on behalf of Kentucky abortion providers and their patients challenging a state law banning physicians from providing a safe and medically proven abortion method called dilation and evacuation, or “D&E.” If it were to take effect, this law would prevent many patients from being able to obtain an abortion altogether. After two courts held that the law is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled in March 2022 that Kentucky Attorney General Cameron can continue his pursuit to push abortion out of reach by intervening in the underlying challenge to an abortion ban, which is proceeding in a lower court.
Stay informed about our latest work in the courts
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU's privacy policy.
Featured
Reproductive Freedom
Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson
Status: Decided
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, and coalition partners filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of abortion providers and funds on July 13, 2021, challenging S.B. 8, a Texas law allowing private citizens to enforce a ban on abortion as early as six weeks in pregnancy—before many know they are pregnant. The ACLU’s challenge made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court three times in as many months. After hearing oral arguments in the case, the Court issued a decision on December 10, 2021, that ended the most promising pathways to blocking the ban. The Supreme Court’s decision makes it more difficult to obtain adequate relief from the courts and gives states the green light to ban abortion using bounty-hunting schemes. Texas’ abortion ban will remain in effect until relief can be secured from a court.
Visit case page
All Cases
Jun 17, 2022
Jun 17, 2022
Franciscan Alliance v. Burwell
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Filed
The ACLU intervened in a case challenging a section of the Affordable Care Act that prohibits health care entities from discriminating based on race, national origin, sex, age or disability.
Visit case page
Jun 01, 2022
Jun 01, 2022
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, et al. v. State of Florida, et al.
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Filed
Florida health care providers filed a lawsuit on June 1, 2022 bringing a state constitutional challenge to House Bill (HB) 5, a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy that threatens to put doctors in jail for providing essential care beyond that point. Abortion providers in the case are asking the court to block the ban from taking effect on July 1.
Visit case page
May 11, 2022
May 11, 2022
Planned Parenthood Great NW, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, & Kentucky, Inc. v. Daniel Cameron, et al.
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Filed
On April 13, 2022, the Kentucky Legislature overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto and passed H.B.3, an anti-abortion omnibus law with an immediate effective date designed to effectively ban abortion in the state.
Visit case page
Apr 15, 2022
Apr 15, 2022
Women's Med Dayton, et al vs. Bruce Vanderhoff, et al
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Filed
On February 25, 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Ohio, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with Fanon A. Rucker of the Cochran Firm-OH, filed a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 157, recently passed legislation that would allow the Department of Health to revoke ambulatory surgical licenses and threaten to shut down procedural abortion services in Southwest Ohio. Governor DeWine signed the bill into law on December 22, 2021.
Visit case page
Apr 13, 2022
Apr 13, 2022
EMW Women's Surgical Center v. Meier: Six-Week Ban and Reason Ban
Reproductive Freedom
Status: Filed
In 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kentucky filed a lawsuit to challenge two new Kentucky laws. One law is a ban on abortion at 6-weeks in pregnancy, and the other law would ban abortion based on the specific reasons for the person’s decision, such as a fetal diagnosis. Both laws are unconstitutional bans on abortion, and they intrude into the personal health decisions of women and families.
Visit case page