In a 5-2 decision, the Iowa Supreme Court has rejected the 72-hour abortion waiting period signed into law by former Governor Branstad.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa sued over the waiting period requirement.

In a court document filed June 29, the Chief Justice said, " In carefully considering the case, we conclude the statute enacted by our legislature, while intended as a reasonable regulation violates both the due process and equal protection clauses of the Iowa Constitution because its restrictions on women are not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest of the State."

The waiting period was signed into law last year by the Governor at the time, Terry Branstad. The original law was placed on hold during the challenged lawsuit.

The 2017 waiting-period law is separate from a law passed in spring 2018 by the Legislature.

The 2018 fetal-heartbeat law would ban abortions after around six weeks. It is currently on hold due to a legal challenge.