News Release

BLOOMINGTON — Nearly one year after Indiana’s abortion ban took effect, ACLU of Indiana is participating in a legal challenge to the ban brought by Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, All-Options, Inc, and Dr. Amy Caldwell.

“The legal challenge seeks to broaden and clarify the scope of the unconstitutionally narrow and ambiguous health or life exception to the state’s abortion ban and to permit abortions provided pursuant to the ban’s exceptions to occur in clinics as well as hospitals,” said the ACLU Indiana in a press release.

The trial follows a 2023 Indiana Supreme Court ruling that affirms that the Indiana Constitution protects the right to an abortion necessary to protect a patient from serious health risks. Plaintiffs are represented by lawyers from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Lawyering Project, the ACLU of Indiana, and WilmerHale.

The trial in this case began Wednesday, May 29, and will conclude Friday, May 31.

“This lawsuit seeks to restore access to health care to pregnant Hoosiers currently endangered by the unconstitutionally limited scope of the health or life exception to Indiana’s abortion ban. Drafted in a breakneck special legislative session in 2022, the law’s exceptions were intentionally made as narrow as possible to appease state legislators arguing for a ban with no exceptions.

As a result, Hoosiers with serious health complications have been forced to endure unjustifiable suffering due to miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other pregnancy-related issues or leave the state to access appropriate care. Hoosiers deserve, and the Indiana Constitution demands, better.”

— Joint statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, ACLU of Indiana, All-Options, the Lawyering Project.