By Attorney General Raúl Labrador
Dear Friends,
Recently, a state court ruled in favor of Idaho’s pro-life law—reaffirming our right to protect life and support families through the laws passed by our legislature.
The Fourth Judicial District Court issued its decision in Adkins v. State of Idaho, a case brought by abortion advocates who challenged Idaho’s Defense of Life Act. They argued that Idaho’s Constitution includes a right to abortion and that the law was too vague for doctors responding to emergencies.
The court rejected the constitutional argument and confirmed what we’ve been saying all along—there is no right to abortion in the Idaho Constitution. That authority rests with the people of Idaho, through their elected representatives, and our laws reflect our values—supporting life, protecting families, and defending the most vulnerable.
In response to the claim that the law is too vague, the court did not strike it down. Instead, it attempted to clarify what the law already says by restating it in different terms. Idaho law has always protected doctors who act in good faith to save a woman’s life—even if her death is not imminent or certain. That protection was already written into the law. The court’s restatement gives the impression that clarification was needed when it wasn’t, and that could create confusion about what the law actually requires.
The important thing is that Idaho’s Defense of Life Act remains fully in effect. It protects women, unborn children, and the doctors who care for them. And it reflects Idaho’s unwavering commitment to the sanctity of life, the dignity of women, and the strength of families.
As your Attorney General, I will continue to defend that commitment with clarity and compassion—wherever the fight may lead.
Best regards,
About Raúl Labrador
Raúl Labrador is the 33rd Attorney General of Idaho. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal representation for the State of Idaho. This representation is furnished to state agencies, offices and boards in the furtherance of the state's legal interests. The office is part of state government’s executive branch and its duties are laid out in the Idaho Constitution.
