A judge in Missouri has blocked regulations that had restricted abortion providers, allowing abortions to resume in the state. These restrictions were kept in place despite voters approving enshrining abortion rights into the state’s constitution. Planned Parenthood argued that the licensing requirements for abortion facilities were unnecessarily invasive and discriminatory, leading to the blocking of these regulations.
The ruling by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang deemed the licensing requirement for abortion facilities as discriminatory and not treating abortion services the same as other types of healthcare. The lawsuit to overturn Missouri’s near-total abortion ban was initiated by Planned Parenthood and advocates immediately after voters approved the constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights.
Missouri is one of five states where voters have approved ballot measures to enshrine abortion rights in their constitutions. The ruling is temporary pending the outcome of the lawsuit, but clinic partners are ready to start providing abortions as soon as next week.
Missouri’s constitutional amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability with exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. The term “viability” is used to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally, generally after the 21st week of pregnancy. Missouri was among the first states to implement a prohibition on most abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.
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