Court hears arguments over Arkansas abortion restrictions

FROM WITNESSES ON BOTH SIDES, THE JUDGE DID NOT RULE IN THIS CASE TODAY. JUDGE KRISTINE BAKER SAID SHE AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COURTROOM HAD A LONG DAY AND SHE WOULD REVIEW EVIDENCE AND ISSUE A WRITTEN RULING SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE. AS OF NOW, THE NEW ABORTION RESTRICTIONS WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON WEDNESDAY, UNLESS JUDGE BAKER'S RULING CONTRADICTS THAT. BETTINA BROWNSTEIN, AN ATTORNEY FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ARKANSAS AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA, SAYS THE NEW RESTRICTIONS WON'T STOP ABORTIONS, BUT WILL EXTREMELY LIMIT THEM. "It is not going to stop women from getting abortions, it is going to make it difficult for women, incredibly difficult and it's gonna make it especially difficult for women in rural areas, poor women to get abortions." SHE SAYS THE NEW LAWS AREN'T ABOUT SAFETY FOR WOMEN. "It is not about caring for women, it is not about that at all, it is about preventing women from getting an abortion." ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL LESLIE RUTLEDGE WAS NOT AT TODAY'S HEARING. SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL JENNIFER MERRIT MADE THE ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. ATTORNEY GENERAL RUTLEDGE DECLINED AN ON- CAMERA INTERVIEW WITH 40/29 NEWS. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING TO SCHEDULE AN ON- CAMERA INTERVIEW WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY. HER SPOKESPERSON TELLS US ATTORNEY GENERAL RUTLEDGE IS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF A SCHEDULING ISSUE. TODAY WE HEARD FROM OBYGNS, PRO- LIFE AND PRO-CHOICE DOCTORS, EXPERTS ON STATISTICS AND EVEN A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ABORTION HERSELF. ALL OF THEIR TESTIMONY WILL HELP JUDGE BAKER DECIDE THIS CASE. WHILE DECLINING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW, ATTORNEY GENERAL RUTLEDGE'S OFFICE GAVE A BRIEF WRITTEN STATEMENT. YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, 40- 29-TV-DOT-COM. IN LITTLE ROCK, EMMA CLAYBROOK, 40/29 NEWS.

A federal judge will decide whether to place a stay on new abortion restrictions set to take effect in Arkansas Wednesday.Planned Parenthood, a clinic in Little Rock and two Arkansas doctors filed suit to stop the restrictions.Judge Kristine Baker heard eight hours of testimony Monday from witnesses on both sides. At the end of the hearing, she announced she would review the evidence and issue a written ruling sometime in the future.OBGYNs, doctors with different opinions on the restrictions, experts on statistics and a woman who had an abortion herself testified during Monday's hearings.The Cherish Act is one of the laws being challenged. If the Cherish Act takes effect Wednesday it would make it illegal to perform an abortion after 18 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies.Current law makes it illegal to perform an abortion after 20 weeks.If a doctor performs an abortion after 18 weeks, he or she could face up to six years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and could have their medical license suspended or revoked.Act 700 is another restriction that was challenged in court Monday.Under Act 700, any person performing an abortion would have to be board-eligible or board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.If a doctor violated that law, they could face a Class D felony and the suspension of their medical license."Let me be clear in my opinion, based on my experience in all of this, it is not about safety for women, it is not about caring for women. It is not about that at all, it is about preventing women from getting an abortion," Bettina Brownstein, attorney for the plaintiffs, told 40/29 News.Attorney General Leslie Rutledge declined an on-camera interview with 40/29 News.40/29 News has been requesting an on-camera interview with the attorney general since last Wednesday. Her spokesperson tells us Attorney General Rutledge is not available because of a scheduling issue.While declining to answer questions in an on-camera interview, Attorney General Rutledge's spokesperson gave 40/29 News the following statement:"Today's hearing is the initial step in our defense of Arkansas laws that protect the sanctity of life for mothers and their unborn children."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. —

A federal judge will decide whether to place a stay on new abortion restrictions set to take effect in Arkansas Wednesday.

Planned Parenthood, a clinic in Little Rock and two Arkansas doctors filed suit to stop the restrictions.

Judge Kristine Baker heard eight hours of testimony Monday from witnesses on both sides. At the end of the hearing, she announced she would review the evidence and issue a written ruling sometime in the future.

OBGYNs, doctors with different opinions on the restrictions, experts on statistics and a woman who had an abortion herself testified during Monday's hearings.

The Cherish Act is one of the laws being challenged. If the Cherish Act takes effect Wednesday it would make it illegal to perform an abortion after 18 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies.

Current law makes it illegal to perform an abortion after 20 weeks.

If a doctor performs an abortion after 18 weeks, he or she could face up to six years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and could have their medical license suspended or revoked.

Act 700 is another restriction that was challenged in court Monday.

Under Act 700, any person performing an abortion would have to be board-eligible or board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

If a doctor violated that law, they could face a Class D felony and the suspension of their medical license.

"Let me be clear in my opinion, based on my experience in all of this, it is not about safety for women, it is not about caring for women. It is not about that at all, it is about preventing women from getting an abortion," Bettina Brownstein, attorney for the plaintiffs, told 40/29 News.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge declined an on-camera interview with 40/29 News.

40/29 News has been requesting an on-camera interview with the attorney general since last Wednesday. Her spokesperson tells us Attorney General Rutledge is not available because of a scheduling issue.

While declining to answer questions in an on-camera interview, Attorney General Rutledge's spokesperson gave 40/29 News the following statement:

"Today's hearing is the initial step in our defense of Arkansas laws that protect the sanctity of life for mothers and their unborn children."

Court hears arguments over Arkansas abortion restrictions

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