Indiana Court of Appeals upholds injunction against part of state's abortion law

The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld an injunction against part of the state’s abortion law, ruling that the near-total prohibition may violate residents’ religious freedom. According to The Legal Information Institute, a preliminary injunction is a court order that stops someone from acting in a certain way until the lawsuit is settled.  
 
In this case, the injunction could prevent the state from enforcing its abortion law in specific circumstances. The appellate court directed that the injunction should clarify that it only applies to those with religious beliefs related to abortion.       
 
When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, Indiana banned abortions with few exemptions. It was the first state in the nation to enact tighter abortion restrictions following the Supreme Court’s reversal of the landmark 1973 case. 
 
A group of five anonymous people and Hoosier Jews for Choice challenged the new policy with a September 2022 lawsuit, arguing that several religions permit followers to terminate pregnancy under circumstances that would be illegal under state law. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. 
 
In Thursday’s appellate court opinion, a three-judge panel ruled that the current abortion policy conflicts with a state law that prevents government from interfering with Hoosiers’ religious practices.   
 
The lawsuit may be revisited in the Indiana Supreme Court.