Latest news with #JerriZhang
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Many Missouri laws restricting abortion blocked again by state judge
The state of abortion, 3 years after Roe v. Wade was overturned Jefferson City, Mo. — A Missouri judge blocked many of the state's abortion restrictions Thursday, reimposing a preliminary injunction against them just a little over a month after the state's highest court had lifted a previous hold. The order by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said the abortion restrictions likely violate a state constitutional right to abortion approved by voters last year. Planned Parenthood said the order clears the way for it to again provide procedural abortions in Missouri. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said his office "will expeditiously appeal this ruling." The court order marks the latest twist in a multiyear battle that has seen Missouri swing back and forth between banning and allowing most abortions. When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law banning abortions "except in cases of medical emergency." But abortion-rights activists gathered initiative petition signatures to reverse that law. Last November, voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy. That made Missouri the only state where voters have used a ballot measure to overturn a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. The state Supreme Court ruled in May that Zhang had applied the wrong standard when issuing rulings in February and December that blocked Missouri's abortion restrictions. Upon reconsideration, Zhang again issued preliminary injunctions against the abortion ban. The judge also reimposed a hold on various other laws, including a 72-hour waiting period for abortions, numerous abortion facility licensure requirements and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at certain types of hospitals located within 30 miles or 15 minutes of where an abortion is provided. "Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it," said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. "Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City." Planned Parenthood clinics in central Missouri and St. Louis also "will work as quickly as possible to resume scheduling abortion appointments," said Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. The attorney general's office said it will keep up the legal fight. "Missouri will not stand idly by while the abortion industry seeks to strip away basic medical safeguards," Bailey's office said in a statement. "We will continue to uphold the State's compelling interest in protecting women's health, safety, and informed consent." Thursday's order did not address medication abortions, which remain on hold while Planned Parenthood wrangles with the state over abortion regulations. The court battle is just one part of Missouri's ongoing abortion debate. In May, the Republican-led Legislature approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would reimpose an abortion ban - but with exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The measure could be on the ballot in 2026 or sooner.
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Abortions can resume in Kansas City after Missouri ruling, Planned Parenthood says
Abortion services are poised to resume in Kansas City and across Missouri after a Jackson County judge on Thursday blocked a series of restrictions that temporarily banned access. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang, in an order issued late Thursday afternoon, halted requirements that abortion providers must obtain state licenses, among other restrictions. The licenses included rules that providers called unethical, including mandatory pelvic exams for women. The order marks a key moment for abortion rights supporters, effectively restoring access after a procedural ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court temporarily banned the procedure in late May. Planned Parenthood's clinic in Kansas City immediately planned to restore access on Monday, the organization confirmed to The Star. 'Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,' Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. 'Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City. We're not stopping until every Missourian can get the care they need, close to home.' Thursday's ruling came roughly a month after the state Supreme Court ordered Zhang to vacate two preliminary injunctions that had allowed abortions to resume in the state. The Supreme Court order temporarily halted all abortions in what providers called a 'de facto ban.' The court had ordered Zhang to reevaluate her rulings based on a different legal standard. After a series of legal fights between abortion providers and attorneys for the state of Missouri, Zhang's order on Thursday blocked the same restrictions and effectively restored access. Zhang's order on Thursday was mixed and did not block all restrictions sought by abortion providers, including a ban on medication abortions. But the ruling halted enough of the regulations for Planned Parenthood to begin offering procedural abortions again. The order states the regulations should be blocked after voters in November approved an abortion rights amendment, called Amendment 3, that enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution. The restrictions, often called TRAP laws or Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers, included a 72-hour waiting period before receiving an abortion and clinic licensing rules. The regulations effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the state's former ban was enacted in 2022. Abortion rights supporters quickly celebrated the ruling as a victory in the fight for restored access. 'Missourians voted to end the abortion ban and establish the right to reproductive freedom in the constitution, and today, a Missouri court once again ruled to uphold the will of the people,' said Mallory Schwarz, the executive director of Abortion Action Missouri. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican who fought against restored access, said in a statement that would he would immediately appeal the decision. 'I will always fight to make Missouri the safest state in the nation for women and children,' Bailey said. While Thursday's ruling marked a win for abortion rights supporters, it also comes as a new fight at the ballot box looms. Republican lawmakers in May voted to put a new abortion ban on the 2026 statewide ballot. If approved by voters, the proposed constitutional amendment, which will also be called Amendment 3, would strike down the November vote that legalized access and ban nearly all abortions in the state. Schwarz nodded at the upcoming ballot fight in a statement on Thursday, saying, 'attacking Missourians' freedom will always be a losing strategy.' 'We will defeat abortion bans as many times as we have to, and we know that the majority of Missourians are with us,' Schwarz said.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri judge again blocks many of the state's anti-abortion laws
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge blocked many of the state's abortion restrictions Thursday, reimposing a preliminary injunction against them just a little over a month after the state's highest court had lifted a previous hold. The order by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said the abortion restrictions likely violate a state constitutional right to abortion that was approved by voters last year. Planned Parenthood said the order clears the way for it to again provide procedural abortions in Missouri. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said his office 'will expeditiously appeal this ruling.' The court order marks the latest twist in a multiyear battle that has seen Missouri swing back and forth between banning and allowing most abortions. When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions 'except in cases of medical emergency." But abortion-rights activists gathered initiative petition signatures to reverse that law. Last November, voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy. That made Missouri the only state where voters have used a ballot measure to overturn a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. The state Supreme Court ruled in May that Zhang had applied the wrong standard when issuing rulings in February and December that blocked Missouri's abortion restrictions. Upon reconsideration, Zhang again issued preliminary injunctions against the abortion ban. The judge also reimposed a hold on various other laws, including a 72-hour waiting period for abortions, numerous abortion facility licensure requirements and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at certain types of hospitals located within 30 miles (48 kilometers) or 15 minutes of where an abortion is provided. 'Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,' said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. 'Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City." Planned Parenthood clinics in central Missouri and St. Louis also "will work as quickly as possible to resume scheduling abortion appointments,' said Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. The attorney general's office said it will keep up the legal fight. 'Missouri will not stand idly by while the abortion industry seeks to strip away basic medical safeguards,' Bailey's office said in a statement. "We will continue to uphold the State's compelling interest in protecting women's health, safety, and informed consent.' Thursday's order did not address medication abortions, which remain on hold while Planned Parenthood wrangles with the state over abortion regulations. The court battle is just one part of Missouri's ongoing abortion debate. In May, the Republican-led Legislature approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would reimpose an abortion ban — but with exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The measure could be on the ballot in 2026 or sooner.
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Missouri judge again blocks many of the state's anti-abortion laws
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge blocked many of the state's abortion restrictions Thursday, reimposing a preliminary injunction against them just a little over a month after the state's highest court had lifted a previous hold. The order by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said the abortion restrictions likely violate a state constitutional right to abortion that was approved by voters last year.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Missouri judge again blocks many of the state's anti-abortion laws
A Missouri judge blocked many of the state's abortion restrictions Thursday, reimposing a preliminary injunction against them just a little over a month after the state's highest court had lifted a previous hold. The order by Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said the abortion restrictions likely violate a state constitutional right to abortion that was approved by voters last year. Planned Parenthood said the order clears the way for it to again provide procedural abortions in Missouri. But Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said his office 'will expeditiously appeal this ruling.' The court order marks the latest twist in a multiyear battle that has seen Missouri swing back and forth between banning and allowing most abortions. When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions 'except in cases of medical emergency." But abortion-rights activists gathered initiative petition signatures to reverse that law. Last November, voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy. That made Missouri the only state where voters have used a ballot measure to overturn a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. The state Supreme Court ruled in May that Zhang had applied the wrong standard when issuing rulings in February and December that blocked Missouri's abortion restrictions. Upon reconsideration, Zhang again issued preliminary injunctions against the abortion ban. The judge also reimposed a hold on various other laws, including a 72-hour waiting period for abortions, numerous abortion facility licensure requirements and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at certain types of hospitals located within 30 miles (48 kilometers) or 15 minutes of where an abortion is provided. 'Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,' said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. 'Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City." Planned Parenthood clinics in central Missouri and St. Louis also "will work as quickly as possible to resume scheduling abortion appointments,' said Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. The attorney general's office said it will keep up the legal fight. 'Missouri will not stand idly by while the abortion industry seeks to strip away basic medical safeguards,' Bailey's office said in a statement. "We will continue to uphold the State's compelling interest in protecting women's health, safety, and informed consent.' Thursday's order did not address medication abortions, which remain on hold while Planned Parenthood wrangles with the state over abortion regulations. The court battle is just one part of Missouri's ongoing abortion debate. In May, the Republican-led Legislature approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would reimpose an abortion ban — but with exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The measure could be on the ballot in 2026 or sooner.
