Two more Oklahoma abortion laws face challenges from reproductive rights groups, providers

Abortion providers and advocates filed a lawsuit Friday asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to strike down two laws that make it a felony to perform an abortion — one that’s been on the books since 1910, and one set to go into effect next month.

In the lawsuit, the groups argue that the laws go against protections for personal liberty enshrined in the Oklahoma Constitution.

When Roe v. Wade was struck down last week, Oklahoma quickly set into motion its “trigger" ban, reviving the century-old law that says anyone who performs an abortion could face two to five years of prison time.

More: End of Roe makes abortion a crime in Oklahoma as state's abortion 'trigger' law takes effect

The law had remained on the books but hadn’t been enforced since the Roe decision in 1973, which protected the right to abortion. It makes an exception for abortions performed to save the life of the mother.

Another law, set to go effect in August, would carry even harsher penalties for abortion providers: up to 10 years in prison or $100,000 in fines.

A spokeswoman for Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor, who is among those named as defendants in the lawsuit, said the office couldn't comment on active litigation but said "our office will defend current laws and the laws recently passed by the legislature as we have always done."

Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Justice, the Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and the Tulsa Women’s Reproductive Clinic are among the groups challenging the laws in the lawsuit.

The groups also argue that Oklahoma’s anti-abortion laws overlap and contradict each other, and they’ve requested an emergency order to block the bans while litigation proceeds.

“Oklahomans deserve abortion access here at home that’s consistent with modern history and modern medicine,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. “Our hope is that Oklahoma’s Supreme Court will recognize what the U.S. Supreme Court seems determined to ignore: the state has no place in private medical decisions.”

More: What Roe v. Wade being overturned means for Oklahoma, where abortion was already banned

Oklahoma has been without abortion access since May 25, when House Bill 4327 went into effect. That law bans abortions at any point during pregnancy and can be enforced through civil lawsuits from private citizens.

Abortion rights groups and providers have also sued over HB 4327 and Senate Bill 1503, which was almost identical to HB 4327 but banned abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy.

Those challenges are still pending before the state Supreme Court.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Abortion rights groups sue over 2 Oklahoma bans, including pre-Roe law