Federal court holds trial in lawsuit challenging constitutionality of Idaho's abortion ban

A federal trial began in Boise on June 3, 2024, challenging Idaho’s abortion ban, which restricts abortions to cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother’s life. Dr. Stacy Seyb, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, filed the lawsuit in 2024, arguing the law prevents doctors from providing medically necessary abortions—such as for stillbirth risks, renal failure, or severe mental health conditions like suicide or overdose. The Lawyering Project, representing Dr. Seyb, claims the ban forces physicians to deny critical care, exposing them to felony charges and license revocation. Idaho’s law allows prosecution for doctors who perform abortions outside its exceptions, including cases where pregnancy termination could save a patient’s life or prevent severe harm. Dr. Seyb’s patients must now travel out of state for care, according to the lawsuit. The trial, presided over by Federal Judge B. Lynn Winmill, is expected to run through June 12. The Lawyering Project argues that abortion access is tied to self-defense rights, citing medical emergencies where pregnancy termination is necessary to prevent death or serious injury. Idaho’s Attorney General’s office maintains that states, not the federal government, determine abortion policy, stating abortion is not constitutionally protected. The lawsuit highlights specific scenarios where Idaho’s ban allegedly fails patients: pregnancies likely to result in stillbirth, cases where abortion would alleviate conditions like renal failure, and severe mental health crises. The Lawyering Project’s director, Stephanie Toti, emphasized that the ban creates a ‘moral hazard’ for doctors, forcing them to withhold care due to legal risks. The trial will examine whether Idaho’s law violates constitutional rights to medical treatment and bodily autonomy.