Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah Supreme Court today held that a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah (PPAU) against Utah’s abortion trigger law can move forward with an injunction in place. The limited decision in Planned Parenthood Association of Utah v. State of Utah et al. means that Utahns can continue receiving abortion care in Utah while the courts determine the constitutionality of the Utah Legislature’s extreme abortion ban.
Jeff Merchant, executive director for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement in response:
“We are grateful for the impact of this important ruling from Utah’s Supreme Court. The freedom to make private decisions regarding one’s own body and receive critical reproductive healthcare is paramount. Utahns should celebrate that these rights were preserved today. We remain optimistic that as this case moves forward, the courts will maintain that private healthcare actions taken by private individuals should continue being preserved.”
This court ruling supports what the majority of Utah citizens have expressed they desire – a continued self-determination for their personal medical decisions. A poll taken by PPAU and Alliance for a Better Utah in 2020 showed 86% of Utahns believe that decisions about pregnancy related healthcare should be made by individuals in consultation with their doctors, as opposed to lawmakers being involved. This prevailing sentiment holds across religious faiths and political affiliations.
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Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.
