UPDATED JUNE 21 2023

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 20, 2023) After a federal court dismissed challenges to the Humanity in Healthcare Act last week, Attorney General Daniel Cameron celebrates another legal victory for mothers and unborn children. Today, General Cameron announced that the plaintiffs in Jefferson Circuit Court—Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center—have conceded and moved for voluntary dismissal of their challenge to Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act.

Attorney General Cameron released the following statement::

“A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable—especially the unborn. Today is a reminder that every life deserves to live. My office will always defend and enforce Kentucky’s pro-life laws passed by our General Assembly. We are gratified that the abortion providers recognized their case should be dismissed. As a result of our efforts, I am proud to say that the elective abortion industry is out of business in Kentucky, and their inhumane practice remains illegal in our Commonwealth.”

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 16, 2023) Attorney General Cameron announces that a federal court has dismissed the challenge to House Bill 3—the Humanity in Healthcare Act—brought by Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center. One of the most comprehensive pieces of pro-life legislation in the Commonwealth’s history, the Humanity in Healthcare Act is now fully in force and is the law of Kentucky.

The dismissal of the challenge to HB 3 follows a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The Court ordered that the district court’s rulings questioning HB 3’s legality are no longer binding and lifted the district court’s injunction preventing full enforcement of the law.

General Cameron released the following statement:

“Our laws should reflect our values. Kentuckians across the Commonwealth have repeatedly sent pro-life representatives to Frankfort to protect the health and safety of mothers and unborn children. That’s exactly what the General Assembly did in 2022 with House Bill 3. I always have and always will stand strong in defense of our pro-life legislation. And because of my office’s work, every word of the Humanity in Healthcare Act is now law.”

View the court ruling here.

UPDATE | 6-20-23

The EMW and Planned Parenthood case to challenge Kentucky's Trigger Law has been dismissed without prejudice.

UPDATE | 5-24-23

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an opinion remanding the appeal for HB3 to the US Western District Court in Kentucky, recommending that the District Court vacate its injunction orders.

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From the Desk of Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director KRTL & The RTL Education Foundation of Kentucky

Today is day 280 since August 1, 2022— the last day abortion facilities in Kentucky were open. In fact, it is nine months, seven days past August 1, 2022! June 24, 2022, the day Roe v. Wade was oveturned, was 317 days ago.

Think about it ProLife Friends, and join us as we thank Heaven… Mothers scheduled for abortions on August 2, 2022 – by now those babies would be born and taken their first breath.

Of course, we know woman may elect to travel out of state to have an abortion, but how many babies know life? How many precious lives have been saved since August 2, 2022?

But Kentucky Right to Life, the Attorney General of Kentucky and our KRTL legal team are still in the Courts defending Kentucky laws and defending LIFE.

Following is an update on the three ProLife matters pending in the Courts.

1. HB 3 - United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Cincinnati
2. Kentucky Trigger Law - Louisville Circuit Court, Division 3
3. Buffer Zone - U.S. Western District Court, Louisville

1 First date in court - June 15, 2023, 9 AM, Cincinnati Court of Appeals

HB3, the ‘omnibus pro-life bill’ Humanity in Healthcare Act that became law in 2022, will be further litigated. Aspects of its requirements have been challenged by plaintiffs EMW and Planned Parenthood. Please watch for more news about this upcoming hearing. Pray for pro-life law to be upheld and protected. For background on this litigation, see this article list.

2 Next date in court - June 28, 2023, Time TBA, Judge Perry Louisville Circuit Court

We’ll call this one the “KSC (Kentucky Supreme Court) case.”

Briefly, the case was on appeal from Judge Mitch Perry, to ask the KSC to overrule the KY Appeals Court decision to ‘stay’ his order to reopen the abortion clinics. A sizable list of articles about this litigation is on this Forum for anyone who wants to follow the timeline.

A Status hearing to follow up on the February 16 (2023) KSC 150-page ruling was held in Judge Perry’s Jefferson Circuit Court on Monday, April 24th. The KSC ruling stated that the abortion clinics did not have standing to bring their case:

After thorough review, we hold that the abortion providers lack third-party standing to challenge the statutes on behalf of their patients. Notwithstanding, the abortion providers have first-party, constitutional standing to challenge one of the statutes on their own behalf. We affirm the Court of Appeals’ holding that the circuit court abused its discretion by granting the abortion providers’ motion for a temporary injunction and remand to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

During the Status hearing, the plaintiffs reported that they had not been able to find a woman willing to represent their lawsuit, as one who would have standing before the KSC.

The Federal standard for standing that had been adopted by the KSC in 2018, states: “for a party to sue in Kentucky, the initiating party must have the requisite constitutional standing to do so, defined by three requirements: (1) injury, (2) causation, (3) redressability. In other words, [a] plaintiff must allege personal injury fairly traceable to the defendant’s allegedly unlawful conduct and likely to be redressed by the requested relief.”

The defendant (appellant) for this appeal, was Daniel Cameron in his capacity as Attorney General. The appellees were the EMW Clinic, their owner Ernest Marshall, MD, on behalf of his patients, and Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, on behalf of itself, its staff and its patients.

The ‘injury’ was the closing of the abortion clinics as legislated by Ky’s ‘trigger law’— the Human Life Protection Act to close the clinics if/when Roe was overturned— enacted in 2019 and enforced. Read here.

The KSC ruled that the appellees could not plead on behalf of their patients because the clinics were not, by legal definition, injured.

The appellant attorney arguing for Cameron, Christopher Thacker, objected to adding a plaintiff —a potential patient of the clinics. He insisted the only issue before the Court was to decide whether to uphold the ‘trigger law.’ Judge Perry agreed with Mr. Thacker and the AG's position.

Judge Perry extended the proceedings, setting a new Status hearing on Wednesday, June 28, to establish the outcome.

It is important for all Right to Lifers to pray about his court case.

In the proceedings before the Kentucky Supreme Court, only one justice, Robert Conley, concurred with Justice Lambert’s opinion which is the ‘holding’ for the case.

The Chief Justice, Laurance VanMeter, concurred in result only. This means that though he agreed with the final result of the holding, he did not agree with the conclusions used to reach it or perhaps with some points of the decision.

Justice Angela Bisig, new on the KSC this year, concurred in part and dissented in part by separate opinion in which Justice Michelle Keller joined. Keller concurred in part and dissented in part by separate opinion in which Bisig joined. (Two peas in a pod.)

Justice Christopher Nickell and new Justice, Kelly Thompson, concurred in part and dissented in part in separate opinions.

So, as we see, the upcoming June 28 hearing in the Circuit Court may take advantage of these dissents to pry open fresh litigation.

Pro-life Jefferson Countians may be rightly disappointed that Bisig, the 4th District KSC representative, is NOT pro-life.

3 Waiting on court date - Stalled - U.S. Western District Court, Louisville

The third matter still in the courts is the Louisville Buffer Zone case. Background on this is found here. The Cincinnati Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the pro-life plaintiffs, KRTL and Sisters for Life. We heard from many KRTL members and friends who appreciated our involvement in objecting to the Metro Louisville Council’s ordinance mandating a ‘buffer’ zone of 10 feet around the EMS to prevent sidewalk counseling.

Our fine attorney Chris Wiest is asking Judge Rebecca Jennings to permanently enjoin the ordinance so that the case will have an official end, upholding free speech. The EMW Clinic claims that it is now a moot issue since no sidewalk counseling is taking place due to the closure of the clinic.

Lights are on in the abortion clinics. Physical abortions are not being performed, but calls are fielded, and there is not yet a definitive end to abortion in Kentucky until the court cases are closed.

Please watch the KRLA Forum for news and comment.

National Right to Life News | by Dave Andrusko | November 10, 2022

The defeat of Kentucky’s Amendment 2 “does not mean there is a right to abortion hidden in the Kentucky Constitution and that the regulation of abortion policy is a matter that belongs to our elected representatives”

When Kentucky’s proposed pro-life Amendment 2 narrowly lost Tuesday night, some accounts acted as though that defeat meant there was suddenly a right to abortion. The exact language was “To protect human life, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”

Yesterday, in a tweet Attorney General Daniel Cameron made clear that in his opinion “while this result is disappointing it does not change our belief there is no right to abortion hidden in the Kentucky Constitution and that the regulation of abortion policy is a matter that belongs to our elected representatives in the General assembly.”

On Wednesday Cameron’s office “filed a motion with the Kentucky Supreme Court to explain why this outcome has no bearing on whether the Court should consider creating a Kentucky version of Roe v. Wade. We urge the Court to interpret our Constitution based on its original meaning.”

Current Justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court

Just before the vote, in an op-ed, state Senators Alvarado and Wise explained what the amendment would accomplish:

Voters have an opportunity to affirm unequivocally, that there is no inherent constitutional right to an abortion in the Constitution of Kentucky. …

Constitutional Amendment 2 simply does two things: it says that under the Kentucky Constitution, abortion is not a right and it prevents state funding from being used to perform them. By voting yes on this amendment, you are keeping judges from creating new constitutional rights not explicitly addressed nor even implied in our founding state document.  This amendment will continue to protect the woman’s life if a pregnancy is to be a medical risk to her life.

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In an op-ed that ran October 25, Cameron wrote:

Shortly before Roe, Kentucky’s highest court considered a constitutional challenge to this statute. The court unanimously rejected the challenge and upheld the law. The court determined that deciding whether and when to prohibit abortion was a matter for the General Assembly and emphasized the court’s “obligation to exercise judicial restraint” regarding the will of the legislature.

For 49 years, our long history of protecting unborn life had been eclipsed by federal judicial activism, but thankfully the shadow of Roe has now lifted.

Read full article.

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Read Attorney General Cameron’s Appeal based on case law and Kentucky’s century-long history of protecting unborn human life to the fullest extent possible.

View the briefs submitted to the Court.

Amicus brief of KRTL in support of General Cameron

Watch live coverage of the trial on KET, 10 AM Tuesday November 15.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 8-1-22

On Monday evening Judge Larry E. Thompson of the Kentucky Court of Appeals granted an emergency ‘stay’ that will spare the lives of Kentucky unborn babies scheduled to be terminated by abortion on Tuesday.

Judge Thompson noted, “One cannot discount the reality that any abortions performed in the interim period, in which the pending CR 65.07 motion and the issue of constitutionality of the statutes make their way through the courts, cannot be undone should Movant prevail on the merits in his defense of the statutes.”

We are grateful for these courageous words and the wisdom of Judge Thompson.

This ruling was in response to the temporary injunction issued by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry that allowed abortion in Kentucky to continue. His injunction ignored Kentucky’s duly enacted ‘Trigger Ban’ and Heartbeat Law. In granting the stay, Judge Thompson recognized the sad reality that dozens of innocent human lives would be irretrievably lost before the case is finally decided unless the Trigger Law was allowed to be enforced.

Kentucky Right to Life salutes Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team for their perseverance and legal acumen in defending the laws of the Commonwealth and our Kentucky Constitution.

By Calvin Freiburger | National Right to Life News | July 26, 2022

Roe v. Wade can no longer be used in court to claim a constitutional “right” to abortion, but a judge in Kentucky has asserted a new rationale for blocking legal protections for the preborn.

On Friday, Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Mitch Perry granted abortion facilities in the Bluegrass State a temporary injunction against enforcement of two pro-life measures, a heartbeat-based abortion ban and a general abortion ban designed not to take effect until Roe was overturned, which together effectively prohibit nearly all abortions.

Perry claimed there was a “substantial likelihood” that the laws “violate the rights to privacy and self-determination” as well as to equal protection and religious freedom under the Kentucky Constitution, and suggested that the trigger law was “unconstitutionally vague” and an “unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority.”

Republican state Attorney General Daniel Cameron rejected Perry’s assertions about the state’s constitution. Cameron has previously argued that the “non-enforcement of even ordinary statutes amounts to irreparable harm. The non-enforcement of the Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law amounts to something far more grave. These laws prohibit what the General Assembly has determined is the unjustified taking of unborn human life. So every day that these laws are not enforced is a day in which unborn children of the Commonwealth perish.”

Kentucky’s 15-week abortion ban currently remains in effect.

The ruling reflects plans pro-abortion activists have mulled for years to root abortion-on-demand in state constitutions rather than the U.S. Constitution, to insulate it from action by the U.S. Supreme Court. Of particular note is Perry’s assertion that the laws’ premise of life beginning at conception is “a distinctly Christian and Catholic belief,” enforcement of which constitutes an establishment of religion.

“Other faiths hold a wide variety on when life begins and at what point a fetus should be recognized as an independent human being,” Perry said. “The laws at issue here, adopt the view embraced by some, but not all, religious traditions, that life begins at the moment of conception. The General Assembly is not permitted to single out and endorse the doctrine of a favored faith for preferred treatment.”

Read more.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 7-22-22

Today, July 22, 2022, Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry issued a ruling to continue blocking the Humanity in Healthcare Act of 2022 and the ‘Heartbeat Law’ of 2019. Abortions in Kentucky continue to be performed, despite the overturn of Roe and the “Trigger Law” passed in 2019 in a bipartisan vote. That law ended abortion in Kentucky when or if Roe was overturned, with the exception of the health risk and medical condition of the mother.

Let me be direct, Kentucky’s battle for the human rights of the child is in the courts because Planned Parenthood, ACLU and EMW seek to have a Kentucky judge and our courts undermine the laws of the Commonwealth.

We find today’s decision by Judge Perry an exercise in raw judicial power on behalf of the abortion industry.

What is most disturbing is that Judge Perry wrote in his opinion, “the court finds any harm the defendants may suffer is outweighed by the interests of the plaintiffs,” which effectively means he believes that the abortion providers’ interest outweighs the life of a human child.

Kentucky’s laws to push back the aggression of the Roe decision, reflect the values of Kentuckians that honor the humanity of both the woman and her child. For over 100 years, the laws of the Commonwealth have upheld the intrinsic dignity of each and every life, defined in our Constitution as beginning at conception.

As prolife advocates, today’s ruling only confirms our mission this November to pass Constitutional Amendment 2, ‘Yes for Life,’ so that no politician, president, legislator or judge can invent the right to abortion based on political ideologies or interpretations of our constitution or the influence of any extremist multimillion dollar industry representing their own interests.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 7-8-22

Two weeks ago, in the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, the High Court noted: Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.

“Following the Dobbs decision, which returned the debate on abortion to Congress and the state legislatures, we have continued to witness concerted efforts by the Biden administration under extreme pressure on behalf of the abortion industry to execute their plan to promote and expand abortion under the umbrella of protecting women’s health,” said Addia Wuchner, executive director, Kentucky Right to Life. “Misinformation and deceptive statements presented by the abortion providers has been nothing more than scaremongering intentionally directed at the very women that they profess to care about. The President’s speech today and his Executive Order reflect the same tactics.”

To be perfectly clear:

• ProLife legislation, explicitly makes clear that treatment for miscarriages does not fall under the legal definnition of abortion.
• No law exists that “outlaws” the treatment of ectopic pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the embryo developing outside the uterus, that must be carefully monitored by the woman’s healthcare specialist to see what medical intervention is needed, which may include surgery.
• No law exists that “outlaws” contraception or infertility care.

Additionally, this past May, KRTL joined other pro-life leaders publicly affirming that we are vehemently opposed to women being prosecuted for having or seeking an abortion. An open letter to state legislators stating the opposition of the movement to the prosecution of women was signed by over 70 pro-life groups.

Wuchner stated, “Recently, in almost every debate and discussion about the subject, pregnancy is presented a barrier and destructive to a women’s future. We believe Kentucky women deserve better, they deserve truth and options. We believe all women deserve better.’’

The 1973 Roe decision, ushered in 49 years of legal violence on the unborn child and a distortion of women’s health care. The abortion industry has strategically sanitized the discussion on abortion. The humanity of the child is almost nonexistent in the discussion, when the child is referred to as “pregnancy tissue” by the abortion industry. But, make no mistake, abortion is the intentional ending of the life of another human being, and it is discrimination to act without considering the moral status of the human child.

“I find today’s executive order by President Biden, which is rather vague and lacking clear guidance, is in reality an “exercise in raw political power’’ on behalf of the abortion industry. The abortion industry with deep, deep pockets, under the guise of caring about women’s health, ends the life of preborn children”, Wuchner stated. “As committed pro-woman and pro-life advocates, Kentucky Right to Life has the obligation to call out such deceptive actions. We will continue to work with and challenge today’s leaders to explore opportunities that focus on women and children and assist them in finding solutions.”

Kentucky’s laws surrounding abortion have stood the test time reflecting the values of Kentuckians, that honors the humanity of both the woman and her child. Kentucky first enacted laws in 1910 restricting abortion except to protect the life of the mother. For over 100 years, the laws of the Commonwealth bore witness to the intrinsic dignity of each and every life from conception. In 2019, in a bipartisan vote Kentucky Legislators passed the Trigger Law, that effectively ended abortion in Kentucky with the overturning of Roe, with the exception of the health risk and medical condition of the mother.

“Our Kentucky battle for the human right of the child is in the Courts today, because Planned Parenthood and the ACLU seek to have Kentucky Judges and the Courts undermine the laws of the Commonwealth. As pro-life advocates, it is our mission this November to pass Constitutional Amendment 2, so that no politician, no president or legislator or judge can invent the right to abortion based on their own political beliefs or the influence of any extreme multimillion dollar industry’’, said Wuchner.

UPDATE | 7-28-22

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 28, 2022) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today took another step in his fight to protect unborn life by filing an appeal in the Kentucky Court of Appeals to have the Kentucky Human Life Protection Act and the Heartbeat Law reinstated in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General’s filing appeals a ruling by a Louisville judge that temporarily halted the laws last week. The Attorney General also asks that his appeal be transferred to the Supreme Court of Kentucky for immediate resolution. Read more.

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UPDATE | 7-18-22

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 18, 2022) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today continued his defense of Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law.  The Attorney General asked a Jefferson Circuit Court Judge to deny a request by Kentucky’s two abortion facilities for a temporary injunction that would extend a previous order preventing enforcement of the laws against the facilities. The abortion providers claim that the laws violate a never-before-recognized state constitutional right to abortion. Read more.

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UPDATE | 7-6-22

On Tuesday evening, the Ky Supreme Court denied the Emergency Motion to lift Judge Perry's injunction. We are disappointed but pressing forward. Watch for further updates.

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UPDATE | 7-4-22

Attorney General Daniel Cameron has filed an Appeal with the Kentucky Supreme Court. Read more. Watch for further updates.

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UPDATE | 7-2-22

Judge Glenn Acree, Kentucky Court of Appeals, rejected Attorney General Daniel Cameron's appeal Saturday, July 2. Watch for further updates.

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ORIGINAL POST

Following Judge Perry's TRO of the Ky Human Life Protection Act on June 30, Attorney General Daniel Cameron swiftly responded with a statement and an Emergency Motion filed with the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

His statement reads, in part:

“In the wake of an historic victory for life at the nation’s highest court, today, one judge in Kentucky has, without basis in the Kentucky Constitution, allowed two clinics to resume abortions. We cannot let the same mistake that happened in Roe v. Wade, nearly 50 years ago, to be made again in Kentucky. We will be seeking relief from this order..."

Read more.

The Motion asks the Appeals Court to enter a temporary order setting aside the restraining order entered by Jefferson Circuit Court's Judge Perry.

It states: It is black letter law in Kentucky that “non-enforcement of a duly-enacted statute constitutes irreparable harm to the public and the government."

Read more.

Thank you, General Cameron!

UPDATE | 7-7-22

KRTL prayed outside the Jefferson Co. Justice Center and attended the full 'bench' trial on July 6. For now--- Abortion services will remain available in Kentucky while a judge considers whether to grant an injunction blocking two state laws that would obstruct access to the procedure. Watch for updates.

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MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL | 6-30-22

Last week, pro-life Kentuckians and Americans rejoiced at the ending of five-decades of federal judicial overreach as Roe v Wade was overturned in the Dobbs decision.

Sadly today, Judge Mitch Perry with the Kentucky 30th Circuit Court, 3rd Division, issued a temporary restraining order that will now allow Kentucky’s two Louisville-based abortion facilities to resume the taking of innocent life.

“We are deeply troubled by this ruling because it clearly circumvents the bipartisan Human Life Protection Act that was overwhelming passed by the Kentucky State Legislature in 2019, and became enforceable last Friday with the United States Supreme Court’s decision which overturned Roe v Wade.

“Judge Perry by issuing this order is allowing the reinstatement of abortions at Planned Parenthood and EMW Center”, said Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, Kentucky Right to Life.

“We fully support Kentucky’s Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team as they continue to defend this law and protect the lives of the innocent unborn children in our Commonwealth through the judicial process,” Wuchner added.

The action taken today by one judge further underscores the importance of saying Yes for Life by passing Constitutional Amendment #2 that will be on the Kentucky ballot this coming November 8th.

by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

Thank you, ProLife Kentuckians, for demonstrating your unwavering commitment to elect ProLife public servants this past Tuesday to serve as your voice in Frankfort.

In the days and months ahead, we have a tremendous amount of work to accomplish— and it appears we will be spending much of our time in the Courts and as well as raising funds to pass Kentucky’s ProLife “Yes for Life” Amendment in November.

HB3, The Humanity in HealthCare Act 2022, remains in the Courts. While we are disappointed in Judge Jennings’ ruling on May 19, and the extension of the order in favor of Planned Parenthood and EMW, it is far from over. Our Kentucky Attorney General Cameron and the Appellate Team in his office will be reviewing the decision and preparing next steps.

Meanwhile, we are awaiting our date to appear before the Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals for our joint Buffer Zone lawsuit. And Kentucky, as well as the entire Nation is awaiting the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs… No time to rest ProLife Kentucky! We have much work to do. Thank you for your support.

by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

With the ‘draft’ version of the SCOTUS decision on Roe v. Wade leaked on Politico, we are thinking through the potential ramifications. Will Kentucky’s ‘Trigger Law’, established in 2019 through HB148, be set off in the very near future to ban all abortions? WHOA! We do not yet know whether the Roe ‘draft’ ruling will be the final one.

The Abortion issue has become knotty, and the KY laws regulating it reflect a circuitous landscape. In fact, the many Amicus briefs submitted to urge the high court to reverse Roe in the Dobbs case, cite hundreds of cases that conflict because of varying interpretations of Roe in state and federal courts.

The section of the Kentucky Revised Statutes that was revised to include HB148 states that KY will ban all abortions, medical and surgical, should Roe v Wade be reversed, or should another constitutional amendment be passed. If this occurs, we will say, “It’s Springtime in the Commonwealth!”

This triggering effect ideally would eliminate the need for the current HB3 regulations. However, there was a stipulation in the 2019 law that its ban of abortions would be effective “relative to the appropriation of Medicaid funds.” If the President should issue an executive order or the Congress pass a statute that would require a state to fund abortion in “limited circumstances” to remain eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds, then the bullet would be deflected in some instances, to the best of our understanding.

We cannot know what the new landscape will look like, especially at the rate the Biden administration issues new orders. We do know that adding the Yes-for-Life Amendment to Kentucky’s Constitution will be needed. It states: To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion. This amendment PREVENTS a misinterpretation of existing law, as the Roe decision effected in the US Constitution. Please keep this in mind when you go to the polls in the fall and help spread the word!

Meanwhile, our pro-life Attorney General Cameron is defending HB3, and the Monday, May 2, hearing ended in Judge Jenning’s statement that she would issue a ruling of a partial injunction very soon. Both sides agreed that certain of the Humanity in Healthcare Act’s stipulations can be immediately enforced.

Following the Judge’s Order, both sides agreed to extend the amount of time for answers or responsive pleadings. The State will have until June 2nd to file an answer and the Plaintiffs— Planned Parenthood, EMW and the ACLU, will then have until June 23rd to respond.

As you can note from the photos, opposition to HB3 was vociferous with a powerful bullhorn, but our pro-life supporters brought a peaceful witness for Life. I am so proud of all pro-lifers for your steady, loving, persistent, effective work to put an end to Roe v Wade and abortion. I am very close to saying, “Congratulations, you have won!” But we await the orderly application of American law.

Watch the video of the news conference that followed the court hearing here.

UPDATED 5-31-22

Judge Denies Request from AG to enforce HB3

"Though final passage was granted more than a month ago, Kentucky’s newest law further restricting and regulating abortion access has yet to take full effect. Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings issued a preliminary injunction on May 19 blocking the state from enforcing most of House Bill 3…

"Last week, Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office appealed the preliminary injunction to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and asked Jennings to allow his office to enforce provisions of the law in the meantime…

"Jennings on Thursday denied Cameron’s request. With the injunction in place, access to abortion in Kentucky is largely as it was before House Bill 3 was passed into law.

… Cameron has rebuked legal challenges to the new law, arguing that compliance is possible even if the mechanisms for compliance don’t exist. …"

Read more.

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UPDATED 4-27-22

Judge Sets HB3 Hearing for Monday, May 2, 2022

EMW Clinic joins Planned Parenthood HB3 suit; case goes to court next week. Watch for more news.

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MEDIA STATEMENTS provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 4-22-22

About the Temporary Restraining Order for HB3

“We are disappointed in the April 21^st decision by U.S. District Judge Jennings to enjoin in its entirety House Bill 3, the Humanity in Healthcare Act. While we are frustrated by the ruling, Kentucky Right to Life is in consultation with counsel, our members, and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in next steps to appeal the temporary injunction.

“From the beginning, we have acknowledged that House Bill 3 would not end abortion in Kentucky. HB 3 is a multifaceted bill that reflects our continued commitment to Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens, the unborn, as well as advocating for justice and safe medical practices for their Mothers.” - Addia Wuchner

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“We are disappointed that the court chose to temporarily halt enforcement of the entire law. This law is constitutional, and we look forward to continuing to defend it.” - Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron

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“I am disappointed with US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings’ temporary restraining order of HB 3, Humanity In Healthcare, allowing for chemical abortions to be used by any female, regardless of her age, who has a credit card that will cover the expense.

“Her decision, along with the FDA’s announcement in December 2021 that allows for the abortion-inducing kit to be available via mail order without a doctor visit, in essence turns every bathroom in the Commonwealth of Kentucky into an abortion clinic. It is a sad day for the weakest among us – the baby in the womb.” - Representative Nancy Tate, primary sponsor of HB 3

by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

House Bill 3, the Humanity in Healthcare Act— our ‘6 ProLife Bills in 1,’ has passed, and Secretary of State Adams will sign it into law. The Secretary of State signs all bills into law when they have required an override of a Governor’s veto.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers this Session and your calls to Frankfort. Kentucky Right to Life is honored to serve as your voice in Frankfort, working with our House and Senate on prolife legislation.

House Bill 3 is the result of over a year’s work! We want to thank the entire Kentucky ProLife Caucus, and especially Representatives Tate (shown in the Rotunda), King, Prunty and Bechler in the House along with Senator Max Wise for his work on SB 321 and the 15-week abortion restriction, and Senator Alvarado.

A special thank you to KRTL members and friends for your calls this week asking your Legislators to vote “YES” to override the Governor’s veto on HB3!

It has been a long session and your legislators have worked extremely hard. When the final vote is cast and the gavel falls declaring Sine Die later today, the 2022 Legislative Session will be a wrap.

I have a favor to ask: Please take a moment to call Frankfort one more time, just to say, Thank you for the voting to override the HB3 veto! Please call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181.

Angry winds

As tornadic winds ripped across Kentucky last night, the anger from the pro-abortion advocates was also intensifying. The ACLU, EMW and Planned Parenthood all will challenge this legislation in court. They have raised truckloads of money to defeat HB3.

Kentucky is a battleground state. To quote from today's Courier-Journal, "Final passage of HB 3 makes Kentucky the first state to end all access to abortion..." Read More.

We take pride in that, however, we know that it makes our opponents even more determined to defeat our powerful legislation.

The VETO Override Senate voting history is shown in the picture above and the House vote is on this page. The asterisk indicates the Senator is a Republican. Also shown is a screenshot from the New York Times that reminds why we are fighting so hard.

Did you know?

House Bill 3 updates the sections of Kentucky law impacted by Judicial ByPass (Federal Law provisions since 1979) making clear that the Court must consider all information, including whether the minor child is a victim of sexual abuse by one or both of her parents, or another individual. This speaks to the issues of rape and incest.

HB3 will not end abortion in Kentucky, but restricts it to 15 weeks and bans mail-order abortions. This Bill reflects the General Assembly’s commitment to Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens. It shows the legislators' dedication in advocating for justice and safe healthcare practices for unborn children and their mothers.

"The scramble late Wednesday to try to block the law was similar to that of 2019, when lawmakers passed a bill to ban abortions after six weeks and then-Gov. Matt Bevin, an anti-abortion Republican, signed it into law the same day.

"That forced EMW, then the state's only abortion provider, to cancel appointments and suspend abortions for a day until the law was blocked by a federal judge. That law remains suspended while the legal challenge is pending." (ibid, C-J)

We know a fight is imminent, but for today, let’s focus on thanking our legislators and celebrating the HB3 victory in the State House!

by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

Speaking on behalf of Kentucky Right to Life, our Right to Life Chapters across the Commonwealth, and Prolife Kentuckians, I doubt if anyone is surprised by the Governor’s decision to veto House Bill 3. But I am disappointed. The Governor, having served previously as Kentucky Attorney General and the former chief law-enforcement officer and prosecutor for our Commonwealth, knows well the issues of human trafficking, abuse and exploitation of women and girls, which contribute to the very real risks associated with mail-order abortion.

House Bill 3 addresses multiple issues impacting the health of minor girls and women across the Commonwealth. As a result of the FDA’s decision to stop enforcing their longstanding health guidelines for issuing RU486, a two-pill regimen for non-surgical abortions, the in-person meeting with a medical provider, counseling, and ultrasound have been replaced with do-it-yourself at-home abortions via mail order.

Kentucky women deserve better than risky do-it-yourself, mail-order-abortions!

Without an in-person consultation between a pregnant woman or minor girl and a medical professional, not only is it difficult to assess any serious risk factors such as an ectopic pregnancy, pre-existing conditions or the presence of STIs– sexual transmitted infections, but the door is left wide open for vulnerable women and girls to be physically forced into an unwanted or quick decision on abortion.

The Governor states that there is no exception for rape and incest. The issues of rape and incest are extremely sensitive and personal matters, and those harmed by sexual violence often carry a lifetime of scars. Unfortunately, those who oppose any restrictions on abortions often insert rape and incest to undermine the legislation. The fact that statements on HB3 are made about such tragic and life-impacting matters as rape or incest without fully reading the bill, especially Section 1, and understanding the bill, is a political travesty. Section 1 explicitly indicates exceptions for sexual abuse and sexual abuse by the minor girl’s parent.

Kentucky Right to Life has led the State for 50 years advocating for an end to abortion and today remains unwavering in its support for the dignity and sanctity of life, especially the unborn. We advocate for prolife justice, justice for the children and their mothers.

A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy deserves the opportunity to learn about her options other than abortion, and deserves for her reproductive health to be respected rather than thrown down to a mail-order solution for such a serious, life-impacting decision, such as terminating the life of her child.

Please call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-372-7181, and ask your legislators to please override Gov. Beshear’s VETO of HB3.

UPDATED 4-9-22 | 8:30 a.m.

Gov. Beshear vetoes HB3

The VETO Days of the 2022 Regular Session began March 31. Gov. Beshear vetoed HB3 on Friday, April 8. The Courier-Journal reported, "Beshear, in vetoing HB 3, listed what he said are multiple flaws, leading with the fact the bill makes no exemption for those who become pregnant by rape or incest, while at the same time making it harder for girls under 18 to end a pregnancy without notification to both parents." Stay tuned.

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UPDATED 3-30-22 | 7:30 a.m.

HB3 heads for Governor's desk!

The Senate passed the Humanity in Healthcare Act on March 29, 29-0, and around 9:30 p.m. last night, the House gave final approval with a vote of 74-19. WATCH FOR MORE NEWS!

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UPDATED 3-23-22 | 11:45 a.m.

HB3 passes 8-2 in Senate Health and Welfare Committee

More good news— the Humanity in Healthcare Act now goes to the Senate Floor!

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by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

HB3 passes 8-2 in Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Good news for ProLife Kentuckians — House Bill 3, the Humanity In Healthcare Act 2022, has passed the Kentucky House! Now on to the Senate.

On behalf of Kentucky Right to Life and our Chapters across the Commonwealth, our sincere thanks to Rep. Nancy Tate, District 27, for her skill in sponsoring this bill, and to the members of the House ProLife Caucus for their support and votes, and to David Osborne, House Speaker pro tempore, for making the right to life and HB3 a Session priority.

Thank you to all our Yes-for-Life-Kentucky and KRTL members and friends for their presence and support at our March first Rally.

At the Rally, Ky Secretary of State Michael Adams announced that our ProLife Constitutional Amendment is officially slated to be on the General Election ballot as measure #2, on Tuesday, November 8!

Thank you to all the ProLife champions who spoke at our rally, our State Officers and Legislators, and to each of you who helped to make our Kentucky Right to Life/Yes-for-Life Rally Day spectacular! See the video and slideshow.

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