Alaska court upholds proposed abortion initiative

Published 3:07 pm Friday, May 3, 2013

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld the lieutenant governor’s refusal to certify a proposed initiative that would generally ban abortions.

In January 2011, the state Department of Law reviewed the proposed initiative and deemed it an unconstitutional infringement on a woman’s right to privacy as recognized by the U.S. and state supreme courts.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell denied certification, prompting one of the measure’s co-sponsors, Clinton DesJarlais, to sue. A lower court sided with the state. The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday upheld the lower court ruling.