Alabama Senate passes abortion ban and provider criminalization bill News
Alabama Senate passes abortion ban and provider criminalization bill

The Alabama Senate approved a near-total abortion ban Tuesday by a 25-6 vote.

House Bill 314, known as the “Human Life Protection Act,” bans all abortions in the state except when “abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk” to the woman. In addition, doctors who perform the procedure under the new law could face felony charges and up to 99 years in prison. A woman who receives an abortion will not be held criminally culpable or civilly liable.

The Alabama measure would have no exceptions for instances of rape or incest.

It now makes its way to Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s desk, who has not commented publicly on whether she will sign it. If Ivey signs, it will be another six months before it takes effect.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama has already announced its plans to file a lawsuit if the measure passes. “While lawmakers could have spent time finding solutions to keep open rural hospitals, increase pay for teachers, and address the critical issues facing Alabama’s prison system, they decided to gamble with taxpayer dollars,” it said in a statement.

States across the country emboldened by a right-leaning Supreme Court are limiting abortion in a number of ways, such as heartbeat abortion bans in Georgia and Ohio and most recently “born alive” bans, which would require doctors to treat babies born alive after an abortion attempt in Texas and North Carolina.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.