The heartbeat law was enacted in 2018 to protect unborn lives by prohibiting elective abortions once a baby's heartbeat is detected.
In 2019, a state trial court put the law on hold based on an Iowa Supreme Court case that found the right to abortion in the state constitution.
The case is Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v Reynolds.
The defendant in the case is Gov. Kim Reynolds (pictured at right), a second-term Republican, who is being represented by Alliance Defending Freedom in the heartbeat case. She is asking the state’s highest court to lift an injunction on the state law.
Last year, ADF attorneys helped persuade the Iowa Supreme Court to hold there is no right to abortion in the Iowa Constitution.
ADF attorney Chris Schandevel tells AFN oral arguments are set for April 11 before the Iowa Supreme Court.
“We expect to get a decision within a couple months,” he advises, “after that oral argument."
