Jefferson City, Mo. — In a significant legal development, a Missouri judge has reinstated a preliminary injunction on several abortion restrictions, enabling procedural abortions to resume in the state. This ruling comes just over a month after the state’s highest court lifted a previous block on those regulations.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang delivered the order, indicating that the attacking restrictions likely breach a state constitutional right to abortion established by voters in the last election. Following the ruling, Planned Parenthood announced it would begin providing abortion services once again.
The state’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, expressed his intention to swiftly appeal the decision, signaling that the legal contest over abortion in Missouri is far from over. This ruling adds another chapter to the ongoing struggle surrounding abortion rights in the state, which has been characterized by fluctuating legal standards regarding abortion access.
The backdrop to this ruling is the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to eliminate the nationwide right to abortion, which led to the immediate enforcement of a Missouri law that barred abortions except in medical emergencies. However, abortion rights advocates mobilized, successfully gathering signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Voters narrowly approved the measure last November, which guarantees the right to abortion up to fetal viability, typically recognized as occurring around 21 weeks into a pregnancy.
In response to those developments, the Missouri Supreme Court found that Judge Zhang had mistakenly applied the wrong legal criteria in her earlier rulings against abortion restrictions. After reevaluation, Zhang reissued the preliminary injunctions and reinstated a freeze on additional restrictions. These include a mandated 72-hour waiting period for abortions, stringent licensure requirements for abortion facilities, and a stipulation that doctors performing abortions must have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, celebrated the ruling, stating, “Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it.” She confirmed that services would resume in Kansas City shortly.
Planned Parenthood’s clinics in both central Missouri and St. Louis are also working to resume abortion appointments as efficiently as possible, as indicated by Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.
However, the attorney general’s office is prepared to continue its legal fight to uphold Missouri’s abortion laws, emphasizing the state’s commitment to protecting women’s health. A statement from Bailey’s office highlighted the belief that the abortion industry shouldn’t undermine basic medical safeguards.
It’s important to note that Thursday’s ruling did not address medication abortions, which remain under scrutiny as Planned Parenthood navigates ongoing regulatory issues with the state.
The broader context of this legal battle reflects Missouri’s contentious abortion debate. Earlier this year, the state’s Republican-led Legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would reimpose a ban on abortion, albeit with exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. This measure could appear on the ballot as early as 2026.
The ongoing legal struggles and upcoming legislative proposals underscore the complex and evolving landscape of abortion rights in Missouri, as both sides of the issue prepare for future confrontations in the courts and at the ballot box.
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