Judge rules Florida’s 15-week abortion ban unconstitutional

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Leon County judge has ruled that Florida’s 15-week abortion law is unconstitutional under the state constitution.

Judge Cooper cited Section 23 of the Florida Constitution, which states: “Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein.”

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READ: Central Florida reacts to the overturning of Roe v. Wade

Cooper said that the law violates Florida’s Privacy Act, which was passed in 1980, and that the state had failed to show a “compelling state interest.”

The judge also noted the federal standard is not the same as the Florida standard.

READ: These laws go into effect in Florida on Friday

“I do think that this order complies with the present state of law in Florida and we all know Roe v. Wade was reversed about a week ago and the only way it should be mentioned from the Supreme Court is that this should be decided on a state level, not a federal level,” Cooper said.

Even though the judge issued a temporary statewide injunction Thursday, the ruling still needs to be written out before it can take effect.

Read: With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, some worry women of color will be affected most

Until that happens, the 15-week ban will become effective midnight Friday.

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