RALEIGH, NC — Abortions in North Carolina are no longer legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, eroding protections in one of the South’s few remaining safe havens for reproductive freedom. U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated the 20-week abortion ban, with exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, after he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision overturning Roe v. Wade erased the legal basis for the decision of 2019 which set an order for the 1973 state law. His decision defies recommendations from all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs asking to let the injunction stand. “Neither this court, nor the public, nor lawyers, nor providers have the right to ignore the rule of law as established by the Supreme Court,” wrote Osteen, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush. . Unable to pass abortion restrictions that would have survived Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, Republican General Assembly leaders urged Osteen to restore the ban on July 27 in a court brief after the state’s Democratic attorney general, a an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, rejected their request to bring the ban before a judge himself. “I am encouraged that although our attorney general failed to do his duty, today we have a decision that upholds the law,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, referring to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Osteen’s decision adds fuel to an already contentious midterm election year after the Supreme Court’s decision brought state-level politics into the spotlight. North Carolina Republicans in November will seek to win the five additional seats needed for a veto-free supermajority in the state legislature as Democrats fend off challenges to keep Cooper in office. Republican lawmakers say a successful election campaign could open the door to further restrictions on abortion when the General Assembly reconvenes early next year. Moore told reporters on July 26 that he would like to see the Legislature consider banning abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal heart activity — usually about six weeks after fertilization and before some patients know they are pregnant . Cooper and other Democrats have already made abortion access a key campaign issue. The governor signed an executive order on July 6 that protects out-of-state abortion patients from extradition and prohibits state agencies under his control from aiding other states’ prosecutions of those who travel for the procedure. “Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and life-threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the true effects of this harmful law,” Cooper said Wednesday. . North Carolina has become a haven for residents of its more restrictive neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, where abortions are now illegal after six weeks. Before the Osteen decision, abortions were legal in North Carolina until fetal viability, which is generally between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, or in certain medical emergencies. As other southeastern states continue to block access to abortion, Alison Kiser, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, said restrictive treatment in “a critical access point state” like North Carolina would have ripple effects throughout the region. The number of out-of-state patients at North Carolina’s Planned Parenthood health centers has tripled since the Supreme Court ruling, Kiser said. So far in August, 36% of abortion patients traveled from other states, up from 14% in June. But Republicans argue little will change by reinstating the 20-week ban. In 2019, fewer than 1 percent of abortions nationwide were performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared with data from previous years when abortion access was federally protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Abortions after 20 weeks are rare, but it’s still incredibly important that people have access to this care,” Kiser said. “The two main reasons people seek abortion care later in pregnancy are because they have received new medical information or, even more so now, they face barriers that delayed their care.” The main delay, she said, is North Carolina’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period to get an abortion after an initial doctor’s visit. The General Assembly extended the waiting period in 2015, making North Carolina the fifth state to require counseling three days before an abortion — one of the longest waiting periods in the country. The 2015 bill also amended the state law that Osteen reinstated on Wednesday, narrowing the criteria for medical emergencies that could justify an abortion after 20 weeks.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative staff. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/H_Schoenbaum.

title: “Judge Reinstates 20 Week Abortion Ban In North Carolina Wral.Com Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Steven Flores”

RALEIGH, NC — Abortions in North Carolina are no longer legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, eroding protections in one of the South’s few remaining safe havens for reproductive freedom. U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated the 20-week abortion ban, with exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, after he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision overturning Roe v. Wade erased the legal basis for the decision of 2019 which set an order for the 1973 state law. His decision defies recommendations from all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs asking to let the injunction stand. “Neither this court, nor the public, nor lawyers, nor providers have the right to ignore the rule of law as established by the Supreme Court,” wrote Osteen, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush. . Unable to pass abortion restrictions that would have survived Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, Republican General Assembly leaders urged Osteen to restore the ban on July 27 in a court brief after the state’s Democratic attorney general, a an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, rejected their request to bring the ban before a judge himself. “I am encouraged that although our attorney general failed to do his duty, today we have a decision that upholds the law,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, referring to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Osteen’s decision adds fuel to an already contentious midterm election year after the Supreme Court’s decision brought state-level politics into the spotlight. North Carolina Republicans in November will seek to win the five additional seats needed for a veto-free supermajority in the state legislature as Democrats fend off challenges to keep Cooper in office. Republican lawmakers say a successful election campaign could open the door to further restrictions on abortion when the General Assembly reconvenes early next year. Moore told reporters on July 26 that he would like to see the Legislature consider banning abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal heart activity — usually about six weeks after fertilization and before some patients know they are pregnant . Cooper and other Democrats have already made abortion access a key campaign issue. The governor signed an executive order on July 6 that protects out-of-state abortion patients from extradition and prohibits state agencies under his control from aiding other states’ prosecutions of those who travel for the procedure. “Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and life-threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the true effects of this harmful law,” Cooper said Wednesday. . North Carolina has become a haven for residents of its more restrictive neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, where abortions are now illegal after six weeks. Before the Osteen decision, abortions were legal in North Carolina until fetal viability, which is generally between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, or in certain medical emergencies. As other southeastern states continue to block access to abortion, Alison Kiser, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, said restrictive treatment in “a critical access point state” like North Carolina would have ripple effects throughout the region. The number of out-of-state patients at North Carolina’s Planned Parenthood health centers has tripled since the Supreme Court ruling, Kiser said. So far in August, 36% of abortion patients traveled from other states, up from 14% in June. But Republicans argue little will change by reinstating the 20-week ban. In 2019, fewer than 1 percent of abortions nationwide were performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared with data from previous years when abortion access was federally protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Abortions after 20 weeks are rare, but it’s still incredibly important that people have access to this care,” Kiser said. “The two main reasons people seek abortion care later in pregnancy are because they have received new medical information or, even more so now, they face barriers that delayed their care.” The main delay, she said, is North Carolina’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period to get an abortion after an initial doctor’s visit. The General Assembly extended the waiting period in 2015, making North Carolina the fifth state to require counseling three days before an abortion — one of the longest waiting periods in the country. The 2015 bill also amended the state law that Osteen reinstated on Wednesday, narrowing the criteria for medical emergencies that could justify an abortion after 20 weeks.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative staff. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/H_Schoenbaum.

title: “Judge Reinstates 20 Week Abortion Ban In North Carolina Wral.Com Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Tabitha Sanford”

RALEIGH, NC — Abortions in North Carolina are no longer legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, eroding protections in one of the South’s few remaining safe havens for reproductive freedom. U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated the 20-week abortion ban, with exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, after he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision overturning Roe v. Wade erased the legal basis for the decision of 2019 which set an order for the 1973 state law. His decision defies recommendations from all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs asking to let the injunction stand. “Neither this court, nor the public, nor lawyers, nor providers have the right to ignore the rule of law as established by the Supreme Court,” wrote Osteen, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush. . Unable to pass abortion restrictions that would have survived Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, Republican General Assembly leaders urged Osteen to restore the ban on July 27 in a court brief after the state’s Democratic attorney general, a an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, rejected their request to bring the ban before a judge himself. “I am encouraged that although our attorney general failed to do his duty, today we have a decision that upholds the law,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, referring to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Osteen’s decision adds fuel to an already contentious midterm election year after the Supreme Court’s decision brought state-level politics into the spotlight. North Carolina Republicans in November will seek to win the five additional seats needed for a veto-free supermajority in the state legislature as Democrats fend off challenges to keep Cooper in office. Republican lawmakers say a successful election campaign could open the door to further restrictions on abortion when the General Assembly reconvenes early next year. Moore told reporters on July 26 that he would like to see the Legislature consider banning abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal heart activity — usually about six weeks after fertilization and before some patients know they are pregnant . Cooper and other Democrats have already made abortion access a key campaign issue. The governor signed an executive order on July 6 that protects out-of-state abortion patients from extradition and prohibits state agencies under his control from aiding other states’ prosecutions of those who travel for the procedure. “Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and life-threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the true effects of this harmful law,” Cooper said Wednesday. . North Carolina has become a haven for residents of its more restrictive neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, where abortions are now illegal after six weeks. Before the Osteen decision, abortions were legal in North Carolina until fetal viability, which is generally between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, or in certain medical emergencies. As other southeastern states continue to block access to abortion, Alison Kiser, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, said restrictive treatment in “a critical access point state” like North Carolina would have ripple effects throughout the region. The number of out-of-state patients at North Carolina’s Planned Parenthood health centers has tripled since the Supreme Court ruling, Kiser said. So far in August, 36% of abortion patients traveled from other states, up from 14% in June. But Republicans argue little will change by reinstating the 20-week ban. In 2019, fewer than 1 percent of abortions nationwide were performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared with data from previous years when abortion access was federally protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Abortions after 20 weeks are rare, but it’s still incredibly important that people have access to this care,” Kiser said. “The two main reasons people seek abortion care later in pregnancy are because they have received new medical information or, even more so now, they face barriers that delayed their care.” The main delay, she said, is North Carolina’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period to get an abortion after an initial doctor’s visit. The General Assembly extended the waiting period in 2015, making North Carolina the fifth state to require counseling three days before an abortion — one of the longest waiting periods in the country. The 2015 bill also amended the state law that Osteen reinstated on Wednesday, narrowing the criteria for medical emergencies that could justify an abortion after 20 weeks.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative staff. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/H_Schoenbaum.

title: “Judge Reinstates 20 Week Abortion Ban In North Carolina Wral.Com Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Jared Wilder”

RALEIGH, NC — Abortions in North Carolina are no longer legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, eroding protections in one of the South’s few remaining safe havens for reproductive freedom. U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated the 20-week abortion ban, with exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, after he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision overturning Roe v. Wade erased the legal basis for the decision of 2019 which set an order for the 1973 state law. His decision defies recommendations from all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs asking to let the injunction stand. “Neither this court, nor the public, nor lawyers, nor providers have the right to ignore the rule of law as established by the Supreme Court,” wrote Osteen, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush. . Unable to pass abortion restrictions that would have survived Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, Republican General Assembly leaders urged Osteen to restore the ban on July 27 in a court brief after the state’s Democratic attorney general, a an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, rejected their request to bring the ban before a judge himself. “I am encouraged that although our attorney general failed to do his duty, today we have a decision that upholds the law,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, referring to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Osteen’s decision adds fuel to an already contentious midterm election year after the Supreme Court’s decision brought state-level politics into the spotlight. North Carolina Republicans in November will seek to win the five additional seats needed for a veto-free supermajority in the state legislature as Democrats fend off challenges to keep Cooper in office. Republican lawmakers say a successful election campaign could open the door to further restrictions on abortion when the General Assembly reconvenes early next year. Moore told reporters on July 26 that he would like to see the Legislature consider banning abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal heart activity — usually about six weeks after fertilization and before some patients know they are pregnant . Cooper and other Democrats have already made abortion access a key campaign issue. The governor signed an executive order on July 6 that protects out-of-state abortion patients from extradition and prohibits state agencies under his control from aiding other states’ prosecutions of those who travel for the procedure. “Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and life-threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the true effects of this harmful law,” Cooper said Wednesday. . North Carolina has become a haven for residents of its more restrictive neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, where abortions are now illegal after six weeks. Before the Osteen decision, abortions were legal in North Carolina until fetal viability, which is generally between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, or in certain medical emergencies. As other southeastern states continue to block access to abortion, Alison Kiser, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, said restrictive treatment in “a critical access point state” like North Carolina would have ripple effects throughout the region. The number of out-of-state patients at North Carolina’s Planned Parenthood health centers has tripled since the Supreme Court ruling, Kiser said. So far in August, 36% of abortion patients traveled from other states, up from 14% in June. But Republicans argue little will change by reinstating the 20-week ban. In 2019, fewer than 1 percent of abortions nationwide were performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared with data from previous years when abortion access was federally protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Abortions after 20 weeks are rare, but it’s still incredibly important that people have access to this care,” Kiser said. “The two main reasons people seek abortion care later in pregnancy are because they have received new medical information or, even more so now, they face barriers that delayed their care.” The main delay, she said, is North Carolina’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period to get an abortion after an initial doctor’s visit. The General Assembly extended the waiting period in 2015, making North Carolina the fifth state to require counseling three days before an abortion — one of the longest waiting periods in the country. The 2015 bill also amended the state law that Osteen reinstated on Wednesday, narrowing the criteria for medical emergencies that could justify an abortion after 20 weeks.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative staff. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/H_Schoenbaum.

title: “Judge Reinstates 20 Week Abortion Ban In North Carolina Wral.Com Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Marie Hewitt”

RALEIGH, NC — Abortions in North Carolina are no longer legal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, eroding protections in one of the South’s few remaining safe havens for reproductive freedom. U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated the 20-week abortion ban, with exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, after he said the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision overturning Roe v. Wade erased the legal basis for the decision of 2019 which set an order for the 1973 state law. His decision defies recommendations from all named parties in the 2019 case, including doctors, prosecutors and the attorney general’s office, who earlier this month filed briefs asking to let the injunction stand. “Neither this court, nor the public, nor lawyers, nor providers have the right to ignore the rule of law as established by the Supreme Court,” wrote Osteen, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush. . Unable to pass abortion restrictions that would have survived Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, Republican General Assembly leaders urged Osteen to restore the ban on July 27 in a court brief after the state’s Democratic attorney general, a an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, rejected their request to bring the ban before a judge himself. “I am encouraged that although our attorney general failed to do his duty, today we have a decision that upholds the law,” said House Speaker Tim Moore, referring to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Osteen’s decision adds fuel to an already contentious midterm election year after the Supreme Court’s decision brought state-level politics into the spotlight. North Carolina Republicans in November will seek to win the five additional seats needed for a veto-free supermajority in the state legislature as Democrats fend off challenges to keep Cooper in office. Republican lawmakers say a successful election campaign could open the door to further restrictions on abortion when the General Assembly reconvenes early next year. Moore told reporters on July 26 that he would like to see the Legislature consider banning abortions once an ultrasound first detects fetal heart activity — usually about six weeks after fertilization and before some patients know they are pregnant . Cooper and other Democrats have already made abortion access a key campaign issue. The governor signed an executive order on July 6 that protects out-of-state abortion patients from extradition and prohibits state agencies under his control from aiding other states’ prosecutions of those who travel for the procedure. “Denying women necessary medical care in extreme and life-threatening situations, even if rare, is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot let politicians mislead people about the true effects of this harmful law,” Cooper said Wednesday. . North Carolina has become a haven for residents of its more restrictive neighboring states, such as South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, where abortions are now illegal after six weeks. Before the Osteen decision, abortions were legal in North Carolina until fetal viability, which is generally between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, or in certain medical emergencies. As other southeastern states continue to block access to abortion, Alison Kiser, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, said restrictive treatment in “a critical access point state” like North Carolina would have ripple effects throughout the region. The number of out-of-state patients at North Carolina’s Planned Parenthood health centers has tripled since the Supreme Court ruling, Kiser said. So far in August, 36% of abortion patients traveled from other states, up from 14% in June. But Republicans argue little will change by reinstating the 20-week ban. In 2019, fewer than 1 percent of abortions nationwide were performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared with data from previous years when abortion access was federally protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Abortions after 20 weeks are rare, but it’s still incredibly important that people have access to this care,” Kiser said. “The two main reasons people seek abortion care later in pregnancy are because they have received new medical information or, even more so now, they face barriers that delayed their care.” The main delay, she said, is North Carolina’s 72-hour mandatory waiting period to get an abortion after an initial doctor’s visit. The General Assembly extended the waiting period in 2015, making North Carolina the fifth state to require counseling three days before an abortion — one of the longest waiting periods in the country. The 2015 bill also amended the state law that Osteen reinstated on Wednesday, narrowing the criteria for medical emergencies that could justify an abortion after 20 weeks.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative staff. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on undercover issues. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/H_Schoenbaum.