March 2020 – Arkansas pro-life legislation that passed with overwhelming support from state lawmakers in 2019 was blocked when U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker ruled that the measures unconstitutionally restrict abortion. She issued an injunction blocking the state’s enforcement of the law. On January 5, 2021, a three-judge panel from the 8th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Baker’s hold.
Arkansas-based Family Council assistant director David Cox felt the court squandered the opportunity to uphold pro-life policies.
“We really believe that there was a good possibility this legislation would be upheld, and so we’re disappointed,” Cox said. “But there is a good possibility for an appeal here to the full 8th Circuit, so we’re still optimistic that these laws ultimately could be upheld and could save the lives of unborn children.”
