The Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment has produced another victory for abortion rights as a Hamilton County judge issued a ruling that the six-week abortion ban is unconstitutional.
Passed as Issue 1 in the November 2023 general election, the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment enshrined reproductive healthcare, including abortion, into the state constitution. After more than 700,000 signatures from Ohio voters were submitted to qualify the ballot initiative for the 2023 General Election, the issue passed with 57% of the vote in November of last year.
Here’s a selection of media coverage from the ruling:
Kellie Copeland was interviewed by WCMH / NBC Channel 4:
The Toledo Blade reported on the ruling:
Kellie Copeland, executive director of the pro-abortion rights group Abortion Forward, praised the ruling: “This win means that tens of thousands of patients from the Buckeye State and surrounding communities can continue to access safe and legal abortion care from providers at nine clinics in Ohio,” she said. “The overwhelming decision by voters to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution last November has paved the way for successful court challenges like the one we’ve won today. But the fight is far from over. Getting an abortion in Ohio is still needlessly difficult.”
Kellie Copeland was interviewed on WBNS / CBS Channel 10:
The Columbus Dispatch filed this report:
“This momentous win is due to the hard work of countless Ohioans who stood up and continue to stand up to protect abortion access in our state,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Abortion Forward. “Now, voters have the opportunity to flip the Supreme Court to ensure our hard work last year continues to expand abortion access.”
“It’s an important ruling because it means tens of thousands of patients from the Buckeye State and surrounding communities can continue to access safe and legal abortion care,” Abortion Forward’s Kellie Copeland said. “However, we expect that our opponents will challenge this case and that it will end up before the State Supreme Court.”