Two Utah advocacy groups are filing a federal lawsuit against the state seeking to block an 18-week abortion ban that they argue is unconstitutional.
The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah have been vowing legal action since the Utah Legislature passed the abortion measure earlier this year. The organizations held a press conference at the state Capitol on Wednesday to announce they’d officially lodged the complaint.
The ban, which would prohibit elective abortions after 18 weeks gestation, is slated to take effect May 14. The groups are seeking a court injunction to stop the state from enforcing the new restrictions while the case is in litigation.