LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld the rule of law concerning a lawsuit filed by Arkansans for Limited Government and their Arkansas Abortion Amendment (AAA), said Rose Mimms executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, in a statement following the decision.
Arkansas Right to Life was involved in multiple efforts to defeat the abortion amendment and will continue working to support pregnant mothers and their children through educational and outreach programs, she said.
“Arkansas has dodged a deadly assault on our women and children with the disqualification of the amendment for the 2024 ballot and we are extremely grateful to the court for their rejection of the amendment as the law required and for the reprieve that Arkansas women and their babies will enjoy for at least the next two years until they try again,” said Mimms.
The amendment sought to radically alter the Arkansas State Constitution by amending Section 2 Public Policy of Amendment 68: “The policy of Arkansas is to protect the life of every unborn child from conception until birth, as permitted by the Federal Constitution,” by adding “and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas,” said Mimms.
“This extreme measure would forever change the Arkansas Constitution to allow abortion up until birth and ‘all provisions of the Constitution, statutes, and common laws of this State to the extent inconsistent or in conflict with any provision of this Amendment are expressly declared null and void … that would prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion services,’” Mimms said.
Mimms added, “In addition, the amendment forbids any future governmental actions to ensure the safety, health, and lives of pregnant women and newborns in Arkansas in an unregulated and unaccountable abortion industry in our state.
“Arkansas Right to Life will continue to partner with the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Pregnancy Network, and churches throughout our state to provide every pregnant woman or girl with support and services that will work for healthy and happy outcomes for mothers, babies, and their families.”
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