§ 63-1-745.17. Public disclosure of identity.

In every civil or criminal proceeding or action brought under the Heartbeat Informed Consent Act, the court shall rule whether the identity of any woman upon whom an abortion has been performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced shall be preserved from public disclosure if she does not give her consent to such disclosure.  The court, upon motion or sua sponte, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that her identity should be preserved from public disclosure, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel and shall direct the sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to the extent necessary to safeguard her identity from public disclosure.  Such an order shall be accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the identity of the woman should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable, less restrictive alternative exists.  In the absence of written consent of the woman upon whom an abortion has been performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced, anyone, other than a public official, who brings an action under Section 6 of this act shall do so under a pseudonym.  This section shall not be construed to conceal the identity of the plaintiff or of witnesses from the defendant or from attorneys for the defendant.

Added by Laws 2012, c. 159, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2012.