By STEVEN ERTELT
(LifeNews) — Gov. Ron DeSantis says his administration will appeal a Florida judge’s ruling striking down a pro-life law to save babies from abortions.
Less than one week after the Supreme Court upheld a 15-week abortion ban in the state of Mississippi, a Florida judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of a 15-week abortion ban Gov. DeSantis signed to save babies from abortions.
The law is estimated to save as many as 5,000 babies from abortions.
“We’re here today to protect life,” Gov. DeSantis said at a large ceremony to sign the bill back in April. “We’re here today to defend those who can’t defend themselves.”
But on Thursday, June 30, Judge John Cooper issued a ruling blocking the law — siding with abortion businesses who wanted to stop it before it went into force tomorrow to protect babies. The lawsuit comes on state constitutional grounds even though the Supreme Court overturned Roe and lifted federal objections to states protecting the lives of unborn children.
Cooper cited the right to privacy enumerated in the Florida Constitution. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, the Florida Constitution is explicit about the right to privacy, which the Florida Supreme Court has previously and erroneously ruled encompasses the so-called right to an abortion.
“I’m not here to litigate abortion,” Cooper said. “I’m here to litigate the right to privacy in Florida. I’m not here to litigate Roe v. Wade.”
DeSantis spokesperson Bryan Griffin told the Tampa Bay Times that DeSantis will appeal the decision.
“The Florida Supreme Court previously misinterpreted Florida’s right to privacy as including a right to an abortion, and we reject this interpretation,” Griffin said. “The Florida Constitution does not include — and has never included — a right to kill an innocent unborn child.”
When DeSantis signed the law, the governor said the bill “protects the rights of unborn children starting at 15 weeks. This is a time where these babies have beating hearts. They can move, they can taste, they can see, they can feel pain, they can suck their thumb, and they have brain waves.”
“Life is a sacred gift worthy of our protection, and I am proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the state’s modern history,” he said.
“So, this will represent the most significant protections for life that have been enacted in this state in a generation.”
The legislation, which would have gone into effect July 1, bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions if the mother’s life is at risk or the unborn baby has a fatal disorder. It also includes measures to reduce infant mortality and a requirement that abortion facilities report suspected human trafficking cases to the state.
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