Kentucky judge strikes down definition of ‘human being’ in abortion ban

\>**A judge ruled part of Kentucky's abortion ban defining human life as beginning at conception unconstitutional in a lawsuit brought by Jewish women.** \>A Jefferson Circuit judge declared part of Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban unconstitutional in a ruling Friday, specifically related to its definition of when human life begins. \>The opinion and order of Judge Brian Edwards declared the statutes “unconstitutionally void for vagueness,” specifically in relation to confusion over their conflicting definitions of “human being.” Good.

A group of Jewish women are also suing Indiana for its total abortion ban too

Wow and in Kentucky no less.  Such oddly terrifying and satisfying times we live in simultaneously.

Hell yeah good for her! Wonder if she used her religion to say why this was unconstitutional since don’t Jewish people believe life starts when you take your first breath

>The Jewish women also alleged that Kentucky’s laws violated her religious freedom because they use Christian doctrines and beliefs around the beginning of human life, imposing them over other religious beliefs. > >While Edwards partially ruled in Kalb’s favor, he discarded the religious freedom argument, saying the law applies to people of all religions equally. > >Edwards wrote that the state’s near-total abortion ban “is a religiously neutral, general burden upon virtually any Kentuckian of faith seeking to participate in IVF.” So this is bullshit. It doesn't matter if it's equally applied to people regardless of faith. The point is that it imposes the belief of a single faith. Which is still unconstitutional. Preferential treatment of a faith is illegal, even if it's then applied to people of all faiths.

If states that criminalized abortion were actually prolife, they would have better childcare policies in place than those states that legalized abortion. But we all know that the exact opposite is true. This is not at all about being prolife, it's all about further disempowering the already powerless, women and poor people. This was made explicit in Texas when the legislature declined to provide a safe harbor of care for women whose life was endangered by their pregnancy. In addition to the tenuous benefit of gaining more power for themselves, there is the element of pure cruelty reflecting their contempt for the weak, and special kind of schadenfreude that comes with telling themselves it's all for Jesus.

Islam allows for abortions up to the 16th week and after that if the mother's life is at stake. So women in Saudi Arabia have more access to abortion than many American women.

The Bible states at multiple places that life begins at first breath. Inside the womb, the fetus' lungs are filled with fluid, and the oxygen absorbing organs in the lung don't develop until the 35rh week (out of a 40 week pregnancy.) "Life begins at conception" is dubious from scientific and religious grounds. Life begins at first breath. Genesis 2:7 Job 33:4 Ezekiel 37:5&6, Exodus 21:22

Note, prolifers, it is the Jewish, the ORIGINAL worshipers of your god, that brought this lawsuit. Your claims of life beginning at conception is bullshit.

Now apply that to Citizens United.

>While Edwards partially ruled in Kalb’s favor, he discarded the religious freedom argument, saying the law applies to people of all religions equally. >Edwards wrote that the state’s near-total abortion ban “is a religiously neutral, general burden upon virtually any Kentuckian of faith seeking to participate in IVF.” >In his order in favor of the plaintiff, Edwards wrote that Kentucky’s abortion ban statutes had “conflicting and intertwined definitions” for human being, fetus, and unborn child, which made their scope vague and unintelligible. >“Because of the myriad of definitions regarding the definition of ‘human being’ and under what circumstances an individual can be held civilly liable or criminally culpable for terminating the life of a ‘human being,’ this Court can no longer dismiss the concerns raised by Plaintiff Kalb regarding how she and others should interpret what they can and cannot lawfully do in order to avoid possible incarceration and criminal prosecution,” Edwards wrote. >The judge added that “this conundrum can and should be resolved” by the General Assembly providing more clarity under the statutes. This seems like a temporary victory because the state legislature can just go back and amend existing laws to define human being the same in all the laws, as starting at conception. Then people looking to strike down these laws will be back to square one. On top of that... >During the Kentucky General Assembly session that concluded in mid-April, Republican lawmakers filed at least two bills that would have allowed a woman to be charged with homicide in the death of an “unborn child” or “fetal homicide.” So things could get even worse once the legislature gets it act together.

Everyone say thank you Jewish women

> While Edwards partially ruled in Kalb’s favor, he discarded the religious freedom argument, saying the law applies to people of all religions equally. > Edwards wrote that the state’s near-total abortion ban “is a religiously neutral, general burden upon virtually any Kentuckian of faith seeking to participate in IVF.” That's not religious freedom you numpty

> Edwards wrote that the state’s near-total abortion ban “is a religiously neutral, general burden upon **virtually any Kentuckian of faith** seeking to participate in IVF.” So then, it's not a burden on atheists and agnostics? What about Satanists?

It wouldn't matter anyway. No human has the right to anothers body.

How about we stop letting religion dictate how healthcare works

"Conception" isn't even one thing. Fertilization and Implantation are two different steps that can be a week or more apart.

I believe Shakespeare called this being hoist by one’s own petard.

I'm fine with defining it as a life so long as we permanently enshrine a mother's right to end that life up to a certain point. Or just leave it open ended for fun.

Jews and Muslims typically have more reasonable takes on abortion, and some branches of Christianity. It's the Catholic Church and Evangelicals that are the anti-abortion extremists.

Abortions are out and "uterine cleansing" is in! Make those pretend christians spend money in court trying to prove which discarded cells might one day have been a person.

Thank you LPM for reporting on this important issue!

I'm shocked that this happened in Kentucky, but I'll take it. Maybe it's just that the judge hasn't seen all the ramifications of the decision, idk.

Could be an elephant. Hard to tell at that stage.

We as Americans need to come together for mid-terms and vote BLUE up and down the ticket. Do not dilute the vote by voting independent or for another republican. We need to rid this country of all vile magas in congress and make sure these people never ever have any levers of power again. There is so much work to do be done to correct all that has transpired with this administration and with the supreme court. Let us all come together to save our democracy.