Montana seeks judge recusal in lawsuit over abortion laws
Source: AP
By IRIS SAMUELS
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The state has asked a judge to recuse himself from a case challenging four new laws restricting access to abortion in Montana, a day before the judge was set to rule on whether to grant an injunction that would delay their implementation.
The state, in a court filing on Wednesday, argued that during a hearing on the abortion cases, District Court Judge Gregory Todd expressed personal bias and prejudice against the state regarding a separate case. That case relates to a new law changing the way judicial vacancies are filled.
Planned Parenthood of Montana filed the lawsuit in August seeking to block four laws, including three that are set to go into effect on Oct. 1. The laws would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, restrict access to abortion pills and require abortion providers to ask patients if they would like to view an ultrasound.
The Montana Supreme Court must now rule on whether to grant the state’s request for the judge to recuse himself. Additionally, Planned Parenthood of Montana filed an emergency petition to the state Supreme Court on Thursday asking justices to temporarily block the enforcement of the new abortion laws until the matter of the judge is resolved.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-courts-lawsuits-health-laws-ca7f66f22e06ec6cf4180c4335270cc8
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