Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Denies Ohio Appeal to Reverse Federal Judge's Restraining Order Against Temporary Abortion Ban

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

State governments continue to hit judicial roadblocks as they attempt to temporarily ban abortions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Michael Barrett issued a temporary restraining order last week against Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's attempt to temporarily ban elective abortions. The goal of that order was to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent abortionists from using desperately needed medical equipment such as masks and gloves used by physicians on the front lines fighting the pandemic. Yost attempted to appeal the restraining order, but his request was denied on April 6.

“We are grateful to Attorney General Dave Yost for his continued leadership in holding the abortion industry accountable and we are hopeful that he will continue to do so in light of this ruling,” said Ohio Right to Life vice president Stephanie Ranade Krider. “While all Ohioans are being asked to make sacrifices in order to preserve innocent lives, the larger medical community is sacrificing the most: not only their time, but their equipment, their private practices, and potentially their own lives. The abortion industry ought not interpret this as a loophole to continue ending innocent lives, push abortion on demand, and proceed with business as usual.”

Other states have had mixed results with their bans so far. Some explicitly exempt abortionists from their rules, while others have been fighting similar legal battles.

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