Hamilton County Abortion Ruling Affirms What Voters Decided: Women's Right to Choose is Their Own

COLUMBUS — House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today released the following statement after a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judge ruled Thursday that Ohio's six-week abortion ban violated women’s reproductive rights codified in the state’s constitution following the 2023 November election: 

“The pain and suffering so many women and their families went through during the 82 days the six-week abortion was law can never be forgotten. We can take some solace in this ruling, but the fight to preserve a woman's right to make decisions about her own healthcare is not done. We must continue to elect leaders and state Supreme Court justices who will uphold the rights of all Ohioans and who will not overturn the will of voters,” said Leader Russo.

House Democrats have introduced The Reproductive Care Act, which would repeal existing statutes related to abortion care following the passage of the Reproductive Freedom Amendment last November such as mandatory 24-hour waiting periods, transfer agreements, and TRAP laws. It would also add protections related to patients and providers including data privacy, nondiscrimination, along with civil and criminal protections for evidence-based care.

Wherever you come from and whatever your background, as Americans, House Democrats know people should have the fundamental freedom to make decisions about their bodies and health care.