Heartbeat bill on trial in America's Heartland

People for and against Iowa's "heartbeat law" are in court today.

Thomas More Society is representing Governor Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) and others who, through the legislature earlier this year, passed a heartbeat bill that not only prohibits abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected but requires efforts to detect it.

"Depending on who you're listening to, or how you're counting, that's six, seven, eight weeks, and it's in the middle of the first trimester," Thomas More attorney Martin Cannon told OneNewsNow in June.

The law was predictably challenged by Planned Parenthood on the grounds it conflicts with Roe v. Wade and the Iowa state constitution, which they feel gives a woman a right to an abortion.

Today's arguments are scheduled to take place today at the Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines. The attorney says Planned Parenthood chose to file their case at the state level to avoid the federal court system – which Cannon notes is becoming "more favorable" to pro-life arguments.

"They've got a Supreme Court of the state of Iowa that they feel is sympathetic to them," Martin continues, "and they're just trying to keep this thing within Iowa."

Governor Reynolds signed the heartbeat bill into law on May 4. A judge has since put the law on hold pending a full trial on the merits of the arguments.