Abortion rights group turns to federal court in defense of Amendment G

Dakotans for Health seeks to undercut Life Defense Fund's state lawsuit

The state’s leading abortion rights advocacy group is asking both state and federal courts to stand against its chief political rival.

A ballot question committee behind a proposed constitutional amendment to establish abortion access in South Dakota wants a lawsuit alleging it duped voters into supporting the measure dismissed, and this week has filed motions in U.S. District Court and Minnehaha County Court seeking action against the opposition group Life Defense Fund.

Dakotans for Health is asking the Minnehaha County Court to reject litigation brought against it last week by Life Defense Fund, asserting its case lacks standing, its claims are meritless, and it seeks judicial review of signatures that were not included in the sample of petitions in support of proposed Amendment G vetted by the Secretary of State’s Office to determine if the measure qualified for the ballot.

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