Missouri Judge Blocks Abortion Restrictions, Eases Access for Patients
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In a significant development for reproductive rights in Missouri, a Jackson County Circuit Judge has blocked many of the state’s abortion restrictions, reinstating a preliminary injunction just over a month after the state Supreme Court lifted a previous stay. Judge Jerri Zhang’s ruling suggests that the abortion restrictions likely violate a state constitutional amendment approved by voters last year, which guarantees a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally recognized as around 21 weeks of pregnancy.
Following this order, Planned Parenthood announced it would resume providing procedural abortions in Missouri, emphasizing that care would begin again on Monday in Kansas City. Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, expressed optimism about rescheduling appointments across their facilities.
However, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey pledged to appeal the ruling, highlighting his office’s commitment to maintain existing abortion regulations. “Missouri will not stand idly by while the abortion industry seeks to strip away basic medical safeguards,” Bailey asserted.
The conflict over abortion in Missouri has been tumultuous, with the state swinging between stringent bans and temporary allowances following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Last November, a constitutional amendment was narrowly passed by voters, making Missouri the only state to successfully reverse a complete abortion ban through a ballot measure.
While Thursday’s ruling allows many abortion restrictions to be retracted, it does not address medication abortions, which remain under scrutiny amidst ongoing legal discussions. The Republican-led Legislature has previously proposed a constitutional amendment to reimpose abortion bans with specific exceptions that could appear on ballots in 2026 or sooner.
As the legal battle unfolds, advocates on both sides brace for a continuing fight over abortion rights in Missouri.
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