South Dakota Supreme Court Revives Abortion Ballot Lawsuit

The South Dakota Supreme Court has revived a lawsuit from the anti-abortion group Life Defense Fund, challenging the validity of a pro-abortion ballot measure, Amendment G, which seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. The Court overturned a previous dismissal by Circuit Judge John Pekas, allowing the case to return to lower courts for further proceedings. Life Defense Fund claims that Dakotans for Health, the group behind the measure, illegally gathered signatures by misleading citizens into believing they were signing for another initiative, which could invalidate the ballot measure. Co-chair Leslee Unruh stated that the group is pleased with the expedited ruling and aims to demonstrate legal violations in the signature collection process. Although the case returns to Judge Pekas, the Supreme Court denied a request for a different judge and expedited consideration. If approved by voters, Amendment G would significantly alter the legal landscape for abortion in South Dakota, currently governed by strict regulations.