The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday to uphold the constitutionality of Virginia's partial-birth abortion ban, passed by the General Assembly in 2003. The full court reversed a previous decision by a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit that determined the ban was unconstitutional.
"No one should be allowed to decide that an innocent life is worthless," said Jordan Lorence, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. "Virginia has legitimately chosen to protect innocent life from a terrible procedure, and the court was right to uphold Virginia's law."
Thirty-one states have passed bans on partial-birth abortion, with 15 state laws in effect.
— Josh Montez
