Virginia's Public Radio

WV Governor Jim Justice signs abortion ban into law

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his annual State of the State address in the House Chambers at the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Jan. 8, 2020.
Chris Jackson

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has signed into law a ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy and with few exemptions.

The state is now the second in the country to enact a law prohibiting the procedure following the overturning of Roe versus Wade earlier this year.

In a tweet, Justice says the bill protects life.

It has exemptions for medical emergencies. There are also exemptions for rape and incest victims – up to eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and 14 weeks for minors.

Victims have to report their assault to law enforcement 48 hours before the procedure, though. Minors can report to the police or a doctor who would then have to inform law enforcement.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.