Top Ohio Republicans indicate bill blocking judicial review of state abortion laws won't pass

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A pair of top Ohio Republicans are throwing cold water on some GOP lawmakers’ hopes to pass legislation stripping Ohio judges of the power to rule on the state’s new abortion-rights amendment.

Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens said Tuesday that he does not consider the proposal, which would directly challenge the traditional separation of powers between the state’s legislative and judicial branches, to be serious legislation.

“I mean, we believe in the constitution and the three branches of government,” Stephens, a Lawrence County Republican, told reporters at the Ohio Statehouse. “I think, you know, this is ‘Schoolhouse Rock’-type stuff. We need to make sure that we have the three branches of government, and the constitution is what we abide by.”

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When Stephens was asked what state lawmakers should do in reaction to Issue 1, he replied that he thinks the focus should turn to addressing Ohio’s infant-mortality rate – long among the worst in the nation – as well as other proposals to help babies and their mothers.

“These families are extremely important, and yelling doesn’t accomplish that goal. Having conversations is what accomplishes that goal,” Stephens said. “And we’ll let the courts figure out the constitutional issues.”

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/11/top-ohio-republicans-indicate-proposed-bill-blocking-judicial-review-of-state-abortion-laws-wont-pass.html

******. Wow.