In a significant ruling, the Florida state supreme court has overturned 35 years of precedent and approved a controversial six-week abortion ban. The court's decision, delivered by seven judges, all of whom were appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, has raised concerns about women's rights and access to healthcare.

Previously, a 15-week abortion ban had been challenged in court. However, the judges found that the right to privacy stated in the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. This ruling paves the way for the stricter six-week ban to be enforced starting from May 1st.

Calls for Justice Charles Canady to recuse himself from the case were made by former Chief Justice Barbara Pariente, as his wife, state representative Jennifer Canady, is a legislative co-sponsor of the newly approved ban. Notably, there is no exception for cases of rape or incest.

This decision will have far-reaching consequences for women across the American South. Florida, despite recently implementing restrictions on abortion in response to the US Supreme Court's Dobbs v Jackson ruling that overturned Roe v Wade, had maintained more accessible abortion services compared to neighboring states.

The southeastern United States, including Florida, has become a region with some of the most stringent abortion bans. As a result, women living in Florida will now have limited access to abortions, extending as far west as Texas and Oklahoma and as far north as Missouri, Indiana, and West Virginia. It's important to note that abortion is outright banned in several states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The previous 15-week ban already curtailed women's healthcare rights in Florida. However, due to the more extreme anti-choice legislation in neighboring states, Florida became a sanctuary for women seeking abortions. Unfortunately, with the approval of the six-week ban, both local and out-of-state women will have to look further afield for legal options, often at a higher cost and with limited availability.

The Florida court's ruling not only impacts women's rights but also has significant political implications. The upcoming fall election in the state will include a ballot measure that seeks to explicitly enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. If approved by at least 60% of Florida voters, this measure could invalidate both the six-week and 15-week bans, potentially expanding abortion access even beyond pre-Dobbs levels.

The addition of the abortion rights measure has suddenly transformed the political landscape in Florida. While the state has traditionally leaned Republican, measures to protect and expand abortion access have proven popular across party lines since the Dobbs ruling. This could have repercussions on the upcoming presidential election as well as Republican Senator Rick Scott's re-election bid. Scott, a staunch abortion opponent, had expressed support for the six-week ban.

Opposition to these abortion bans in Florida is strong. More than 60% of voters in the state oppose the six-week ban, and with its imminent implementation, opposition is likely to grow. The post-Dobbs era has underscored that when faced with the tangible consequences of a ban on abortion, public sentiment leans towards supporting freedom and access to healthcare.

While the political climate may offer an advantage to the Democratic Party given the unpopularity of the bans and the salience of the abortion issue, it comes at a great cost to women's health, well-being, and independence. The impacts of these restrictive measures on women's lives cannot be underestimated.