Iowa governor confident in appealing Iowa abortion law

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she is confident in her appeal of a recent ruling that struck down a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion, despite myriad state court rulings that have nullified similar laws.

Sixth District Judge Mitchell Turner this week ruled the 2020 law requiring the waiting period unconstitutional.

Reynolds’ appeal puts the case on track for the Iowa Supreme Court.

“I absolutely don’t agree with the decision, and that’s what the process is for,” Reynolds said Wednesday during a news conference at the Iowa Capitol. “Certainly, we’ll be appealing that decision, and we’re pretty confident that we can get the outcome that we’re looking for.”

The Iowa Supreme Court in recent years has struck down multiple abortion restriction laws passed by Iowa lawmakers, including a 2018 ruling that struck down a 72-hour waiting period.

Since that ruling, Reynolds has appointed four justices to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Rita Bettis Austen, legal director for ACLU of Iowa, said the change in the high court’s makeup should not change its adherence to the 2018 ruling.

“The way that legal precedent works is that it is not supposed to change based on the decision-makers,” Bettis Austen said during a news conference earlier this week.

Comments: (563) 333-2659; erin.murphy@lee.net