Police & Courts Washington ban on over-the-counter sexual assault kits upheld by federal judge
Washington’s ban on the sale or advertising of over-the-counter sexual assault evidence kits was upheld by a federal judge on Monday.
Proponents of Washington’s law, passed in 2023 as House Bill 1564, said over-the-counter kits aren’t sufficient compared to forensic sexual assault examinations by trained medical staff. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office called the kits “rarely, if ever, admissible in court.”
Pennsylvania-based Leda Health, the company that challenged the state law, said it plans to appeal Monday’s ruling.
Formerly known as MeToo Kits, Leda Health says the company’s kits offer survivors an alternative if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable going to the police or a hospital. The company was founded by Madison Campbell, a survivor of sexual assault who said she created the kits due to her own experiences.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/10/22/washington-ban-on-over-the-counter-sexual-assault-kits-upheld-by-federal-judge/