After judges blocked Ohio laws restricting abortion and gender-affirming care for transgender minors , lawmakers want to speed up appeals when state laws are put on hold.
A last-minute change to House Bill 301 would allow Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to appeal judges’ decisions to block state laws and regulations immediately. Some judges have ruled that temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions cannot be appealed until the case is finished, which is often months or years later.
“This way a single local judge can’t tie up a state law for months before a trial even takes place, and the state can immediately ask the court of appeals to review,” said Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville. He noted that individuals often shop for liberal or conservative judges to ensure a favorable ruling.
But Freda Levenson, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, said this change would have proved “disastrous” if it had been in effect when opponents challenged Ohio’s ban on most abortions.