Florida Supreme Court hears abortion waiting period arguments

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday on a law that requires a 24-hour waiting period for women pursuing abortions.

The American Civil Liberties Union contends the law forces a “medically unnecessary delay” that stalls women from getting the procedure. The law was temporarily blocked in June by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who wanted to give the federal courts time to make a decision on the ACLU’s challenge to the waiting period.

The law, originally passed by the Republican-controlled legislature, would deny state funds to organizations that perform abortions. But Hinkle ruled that portion unconstitutional.

“The Supreme Court has repeatedly said that a government cannot prohibit indirectly – by withholding otherwise-available public funds – conduct that the government could not constitutionally prohibit directly,” Hinkle said in his ruling, according to the Associated Press.

In July, Gov. Rick Scott refused to appeal Hinkle’s ruling but vowed to defend the law in court, the AP reported.