Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor sues Gov. DeSantis over abortion rights
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A synagogue in Palm Beach County has sued Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida. It's challenging the state's new anti-abortion law.
Rabbi Barry Silver, Esq., of Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor, said the law "discriminates against Jews, the mentally ill and those who do not share the views of fundamentalist Christianity."
"In violation of the will of the people, all case precedent and Florida’s history of protecting the right to abortion as inviolate and fundamental, the Florida legislature recently passed House Bill 5, a law that criminalizes pre-viability abortions in direct violation of Floridians’ fundamental privacy rights guaranteed by the Florida Constitution," according to the complaint.
The lawsuit is not the first legal challenge the governor is facing regarding the abortion bill.
DeSantis signed the 15-week abortion ban into law at a church in Kissimmee in April, at an event in which speakers discussed prayer and religious themes, such as there not being any unplanned pregnancies since God has a plan for everything.
The law has no exemptions for rape or incest. It would allow an exemption if the pregnancy is a serious risk to the mother — and a second doctor agrees in writing — or if a fatal fetal abnormality is detected.
In that case, according to the bill [390.0111 (1) (a)]:
Two physicians certify in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition.
For now, it's set to take effect July 1. Until then, Florida allows abortions through the second trimester.
