The End-Run Around Direct Democracy
The Ohio Supreme Court just announced on April 15, 2026, they’ll expedite review of ACLU of Ohio v. State of Ohio. This pivotal case challenges Senate Bill 14 (SB 14), Governor Mike DeWine’s pet project signed into law earlier this year. SB 14 mandates a draconian 48-hour waiting period and parental notification/consent for minors seeking abortions, even when a judicial bypass has already been granted. What’s truly insidious is that this effectively nullifies a court’s own decision. Let’s be clear: this bill is a direct, legislative middle finger to Issue 1. It’s a desperate, cynical attempt by the Republican-controlled General Assembly to chip away at a constitutional right the people explicitly demanded and voted into existence. Supporters, like Ohio Right to Life, spew platitudes about “parental involvement,” a transparent smokescreen for control. This isn’t about protecting kids; it’s about making it harder for minors to access critical healthcare, especially those in abusive homes or facing difficult, time-sensitive circumstances. In 2024, approximately 8% of Ohio abortions were for individuals under 18. Even fewer—fewer than 100 minors annually—manage to go through the existing, already complex judicial bypass process. SB 14 doesn’t just add hurdles; it builds higher, insurmountable walls, trapping vulnerable children in potentially dangerous situations.What’s Really Driving This?
Engler’s lawsuit and the relentless push for SB 14 aren’t about “unintended consequences” of Issue 1, as some disingenuous conservative lawmakers feebly claim. It’s about pure, unadulterated sour grapes. They lost decisively at the ballot box and are now trying to win in the courts and through legislative back-channels, hoping to subvert the will of the majority. The public reaction on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) is spot on: this is a “power-grabby Republican” trying to impose his moral code where voters explicitly rejected it. The rage against Engler for his “theocratic bullyboy” tactics is not only justified, it also demonstrates Ohioans’ commitment to democracy.“This dude lost his veto power over teen abortions and can’t deal—cry more, your robe ain’t a crown,” one user correctly observed on Reddit, capturing the widespread frustration.This is exactly why people despise politicians and judges who believe they are above the law and the will of the electorate. They can’t accept when the public makes a decision they don’t like. Instead, they weaponize the law and the courts, turning justice into a political cudgel.
Red Marker Verdict
The real motive behind Judge Engler’s audacious antics and the legislative push for SB 14 is simple: **control and defiance.** It’s not about “protecting minors;” it’s about anti-abortion forces trying to reclaim power they lost when Issue 1 passed. They’re using minors as a convenient wedge, hoping a now-conservative Supreme Court will rubber-stamp their agenda and gut the constitutional amendment. This is a cynical, calculated attempt to subvert direct democracy, and every Ohioan should see it for what it is. Don’t fall for the “safeguarding children” lie; this is about imposing a minority’s will on the majority. The question for Ohioans now is: Will we let them get away with it?Photo: Photo by Wesley Fryer on Openverse (flickr) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31442459@N00/5172606028)
Source: Google News
