A state judge in Wyoming has ruled to strike down the state's overall ban on abortion and its unique prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy. This decision aligns with a growing trend of support for abortion rights across the country.
Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens has consistently blocked the laws since 2022, ruling in favor of abortion rights advocates. The laws in question included a ban on abortion except in cases of protecting the pregnant woman's life, rape, or incest, as well as a prohibition on abortion pills.
The laws were challenged by four women, two obstetricians, and two nonprofit organizations. Wellspring Health Access, one of the organizations, opened Wyoming's first full-service abortion clinic in years following an arson attack in 2022.
Recent elections have seen victories for abortion rights advocates in several states, with voters in Missouri overturning a restrictive abortion ban. However, bans remain in place in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Abortion rights amendments were passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana, while Nevada voters approved an amendment in support of abortion rights. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to significant changes in abortion laws across the country.
Currently, 13 states have bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions, while four states have bans that take effect around six weeks into pregnancy. Legal challenges have been mounted against many of these bans, with courts blocking enforcement in some cases.
In the Wyoming case, the plaintiffs argued that the bans would harm their health and well-being, while the state contended that the bans did not violate the state constitution. Judge Owens ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, stating that the bans impede women's fundamental right to make healthcare decisions.
Wyoming voters had previously approved a constitutional amendment affirming residents' right to make their own healthcare decisions. Governor Mark Gordon, who signed the abortion laws, did not immediately comment on the ruling.
With this decision, a trial scheduled for the spring will no longer be necessary, as Judge Owens has ruled on the lawsuit challenging the abortion bans.
