Latest news with #MissouriSupremeCourt
Black America Web
a day ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Missouri Supreme Court Reinstates Abortion Ban Despite Voters Repealing It
Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision, many states in the Deep South and Midwest wasted no time in implementing restrictive abortion bans. Missouri was one such state, with state legislators passing an abortion ban that effectively criminalized the practice in every circumstance save for a medical emergency. While Missouri voters rejected the abortion ban through a ballot measure last year, a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court has reinstated the abortion ban statewide. NBC News reports the state Supreme Court found Judge Jerri Zhang used the wrong standards in her ruling that allowed abortions to continue in the state. Zhang's ruling stated that she was allowing abortions to continue as she believed that advocates would eventually prove successful in the case, either way. The state court ordered Zhang to vacate her prior ruling and utilize the standards they laid out in the ruling, which are centered around determining whether harm would result from allowing abortions to resume in the state. From NBC News: The state emphasized in its petition filed to the state Supreme Court in March that Planned Parenthood didn't sufficiently prove women were harmed without the temporary blocks on the broad swath of laws and regulations on abortion services and providers. On the contrary, the state said Zhang's decisions left abortion facilities 'functionally unregulated' and women with 'no guarantee of health and safety.' Among the regulations that had been placed on hold were ones setting cleanliness standards for abortion facilities and requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at certain types of hospitals located within 30 miles (48 kilometers) or 15 minutes of where an abortion is provided. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement that 'today's decision from the Missouri Supreme Court is a win for women and children and sends a clear message — abortion providers must comply with state law regarding basic safety and sanitation requirements.' Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty Despite the majority of Missouri voters casting their ballots to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution, that has not stopped state Republicans from doing their damndest to ignore the will of the people. The focus on 'sanitary measures' seems to be less rooted in genuine concern and more a continuation of the ways state Republicans have tried to hyper-regulate abortion to make access more difficult. Even in the wake of the ballot measure, Republican legislators have introduced bills that would classify abortion pills as controlled substances and legislation that would treat abortion as homicide. They have even gone so far as to introduce another ballot measure that would reinstate the abortion ban with added exceptions for rape and incest. (which I'm sorry, but it's ACTUALLY INSANE that they didn't even have those to begin with.) The 'pro-life' moves by state legislatures nationwide have proven to be quite fatal. The infant mortality rate rose for the first time in 20 years after Roe v. Wade was repealed, and many of these abortion bans went into place. Like everything awful in America, the abortion bans have had disproportionate effects on Black women. In Missouri, Black women are 2.5 times more likely than white women to suffer fatal complications related to pregnancy. It's a similar story in Texas, which saw a 38% increase in deaths of Black mothers in the wake of the state's abortion ban. In fact, in every state with an abortion ban, Black women are statistically more likely to suffer fatal pregnancy-related complications than any other demographic. Numbers like those are why I can't stand the moral grandstanding of pro-lifers, as it's clear they're not pro-life. They just want to exert control over a woman's body. The politicians who talk a big game about the sanctity of life are the same ones who vote against free school lunches, stricter gun control, and expanded healthcare. The numbers show that these abortion bans have resulted in both higher infant and maternal mortality rates, yet I doubt that's going to do anything to change the minds of the legislators who impose these bans. That doesn't sound too pro-life to me. In fact, it sounds like quite the opposite. SEE ALSO: They Scared: Target, Walmart Warn Investors About Consumer Boycotts California Teen Spurs Outrage With Racist Promposal SEE ALSO Missouri Supreme Court Reinstates Abortion Ban Despite Voters Repealing It was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri judge vacates abortion rulings after state Supreme Court order
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Just one day after the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a Jackson County judge to vacate injunctions that , the judge has complied — officially pulling back those protections. But what happens next is anyone's guess. As FOX4 reported Tuesday night, this case is complex — and now we're beginning to understand why. Veteran trial and appellate court Attorney David Larson says the judge's original injunctions were tossed because the state's highest court determined she used the wrong legal standard. Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law 'The procedural vehicle in which the Supreme Court acted was through what's called an extraordinary writ process,' Larson explained. That extraordinary step has transformed what was already a politically charged issue into a full-blown legal showdown. The roots of the fight go back to November, when Missouri voters passed Amendment 3, enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution. The state quickly filed suit to challenge the amendment, and a Jackson County judge issued two injunctions aimed at preserving those rights while the case played out in court. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the judge applied outdated legal criteria when issuing those temporary protections. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri 'Her responsibility will be then to — to do what she needs to do or what she believes is necessary and appropriate to apply the standards that the Supreme Court has instructed her to follow,' Larson said. Under the new standard, any future rulings must pass a strict four-part test, including showing that abortion rights advocates would suffer irreparable harm and have a strong chance of winning the case. That legal shift stems from recent changes in how the 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals — which includes Missouri — handles injunctions involving challenges to state laws. 'The 8th Circuit had a prior set of standards to apply. They then subsequently changed that and updated that, and the Supreme Court in its ruling Tuesday elected to be governed by the more recent case,' Larson said. What comes next isn't clear. The judge could bring both sides back into court for arguments, or she might simply apply the new legal standard and issue a fresh ruling without another cautions that even if the standard is applied correctly, there's no guarantee the judge will reissue the injunctions. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV So far, there's no timeline for when a new decision might come — or how it could impact abortion access in Missouri moving forward. Stay with FOX4 for continuing coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kansas abortion clinics could take on more patients in Missouri ban fallout
The Planned Parenthood office on June 24, 2022, in St. Louis. (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent) TOPEKA — A total abortion ban is back in Missouri, and for Kansas clinics, that could mean added strain on a system that already serves as a regional safe haven. Two recent rulings from a lower court judge allowed Missourians to receive abortion care in major cities, blocking years of restrictions implemented by state lawmakers. Those rulings came after voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November enshrining reproductive freedom in the state constitution. All of that was undone in a two-page ruling Tuesday from Chief Justice Mary Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang to vacate the December and February decisions and reevaluate the case, restoring a ban on abortions and facility licensing restrictions. Missourians have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in name only, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains. She called the Tuesday ruling surprising but added that the organization is accustomed to having to pivot because of court cases and politics. Planned Parenthood Great Plains has clinics on both sides of the state line, so the impacts of the court's ruling are widespread for the organization. On the Missouri side, appointment times are being canceled, and care will become scarcer if the ruling remains in place, Wales said. On the Kansas side, the ruling means adding more appointment times and stretching providers to offer care to an entire region. Kansas abortion clinics serve mostly out-of-state patients, which has been attributed to its strong reproductive freedoms and its proximity to Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where residents must seek care away from home. 'Having so few providers to support an entire region is not a sustainable system,' Wales said. The ruling is a continuation of notoriously difficult-to-access care in Missouri, said Isabel Guarnieri, communications director for the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization. 'As of now, the total ban is back in effect, along with other restrictions that force patients to wait and receive counseling before obtaining an abortion and (targeted regulation of abortion providers) laws that make it difficult for clinics to operate,' Guarnieri said in a Wednesday press release. In 2023, with Missouri's ban in effect, almost 3,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas for an abortion. More than 8,700 traveled to Illinois. Wales said Planned Parenthood had been hopeful that Missouri's restoration of access to abortion could have offered Kansas clinics breathing room. 'We know that the demand for the region outpaces what we can provide,' she said. And that only applies to those who can access care. Without local abortion access, Wales said, people without the ability to travel for care will be left behind. Missouri lawmakers intend to put another ballot measure before voters, likely in the 2026 general election, that would overturn the November amendment establishing reproductive freedom in the state constitution. Kansas Republicans have taken a more roundabout approach in presenting to voters an August 2026 referendum on the state Supreme Court justice selection process. Electing state Supreme Court justices by popular vote could give the majority a conservative tilt, paving the way for the reversal of decisions that protect abortion, public school funding and legislative districts, among others. Attorneys general from Kansas, Missouri and Idaho are involved in a federal lawsuit seeking to rewrite federal prescribing guidelines for medication abortions. The Trump administration has asked the court to dismiss the suit.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Abortion Appointments Suddenly Canceled After Missouri Court Ruling
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri canceled abortion appointments after the state's Supreme Court reinstated an abortion ban on Tuesday. Why It Matters The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling abruptly reversed a temporary restoration of abortion rights in the state that followed voters' decision to enshrine them into the constitution last year. Reproductive rights remain a critical legal and political issue across the country after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that guaranteed abortion rights in each state, in 2022. Missouri, like other Republican-led states, banned most abortions following the ruling, but voters backed an amendment to legalize the procedure last November. What To Know The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that District Court Judge Jerri Zhang used the wrong standard in December and February rulings that allowed abortions to resume in the state, the Associated Press reported. The court ordered her to reevaluate the case using new standards, including whether there would be harm if abortions were able to continue. This resulted in abortion care appointments being canceled at clinics in Columbia and Kansas City, Emily Wales, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, told Newsweek. She said Wednesday that patients were not being seen on Tuesday, so no one had to stop care, but that they did have to call patients who were set to receive abortion care in the coming days. Planned Parenthood is working to help them see providers in Illinois or Kansas, where abortion remains legal. "Unfortunately, we've been really skilled at having those conversations in Missouri. Even before the Dobbs decision, care was intermittent because of political interference for years," she said. Reproductive rights protesters demonstrate at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2024. Reproductive rights protesters demonstrate at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2024. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images However, going out of state is not always doable for residents who are unable to secure child care or take time off work, she said, adding that unless care is local, it is "not accessible to everyone." She said Planned Parenthood has already filed a letter seeking a new injunction. Zhang earlier ordered an injunction blocking some regulations on abortion she found to be "unnecessary" and "discriminatory" against abortion providers, The Missouri Independent reported. The constitutional amendment narrowly passed Missouri voters last November by about 3 percentage points, even as President Donald Trump carried the state by 18 points. Planned Parenthood soon after sued over other laws it believed were restricting abortion access in the state. The ruling was celebrated by conservatives who do not support abortion. Sam Lee, director of Campaign Life Missouri, told the Associated Press that he was "extremely excited" about the ruling. "This means that our pro-life laws, which include many health and safety protections for women, will remain in place," he said. What People Are Saying Emily Wales, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, told Newsweek: "It is easy to be frustrated and to feel like your voices are unheard by the legislature and politicians in the state right now. People in Missouri were able to vote on abortion access. We demanded that they have a right to get private medical care without government interference, yet here we are." Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, wrote in a statement: "Today's decision from the Missouri Supreme Court is a win for women and children and sends a clear message – abortion providers must comply with state law regarding basic safety and sanitation requirements." What Happens Next Zhang will now review the case under the more rigorous standard mandated by the Missouri Supreme Court. Earlier this year, Missouri lawmakers passed a 2026 referendum that would give voters the chance to repeal the amendment passed by voters last year.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missouri Supreme Court Halts Abortion Access, Defying Will Of The Voters
The Missouri Supreme Court has halted abortion access in the state for now, upending a constitutional amendment that voters put in place last year and delivering a 'devastating' setback for patients in need of immediate abortion care, reproductive rights advocates say. The state's highest court ruled Tuesday that a district judge must vacate her two recent rulings issuing preliminary injunctions protecting abortion rights, which were reinstated by voters last November following a 2022 ban in the wake of the fall of Roe v. Wade. 'This latest attack by the Missouri Supreme Court is unconstitutional, unconscionable, and downright dirty politics,' Mini Timmaraju, the president of Reproductive Freedom for All, said in reacting to the ruling. 'It is devastating for people across the country to know that even if they organize, vote, and pass measures to protect their reproductive care, extreme GOP actors will still try to take away our constitutional rights.' The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling hinges on its conclusion that District Judge Jerri Zhang used the wrong standard to make her decisions. When she determined in December that the state's near-total abortion ban was unenforceable, then in February struck down licensing requirements and regulations for abortion clinics, calling them 'unnecessary' and 'discriminatory,' she concluded that abortion rights advocates were likely to prevail in their larger, ongoing battle with the state over abortion access. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled this week that Zhang should have first considered whether allowing abortions to continue would cause any harms. The decision gives Zhang the chance to revisit the cases and reissue her rulings. But for now, patients in need of abortions in Missouri will have to leave the state for care. 'This decision puts our state back under a de facto abortion ban and is devastating for Missourians and the providers they trust with their personal health care decisions,' Emily Wales and Margot Riphagen, the presidents of Planned Parenthood's Great Plains and Great Rivers branches, respectively, said in a joint statement. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey celebrated the ruling, calling it a 'win for women and children.' Bailey was able to challenge Zhang's rulings because of the state's newly passed Senate Bill 22, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center noted in a press release last week. The legislation allows the Missouri attorney general to appeal preliminary injunctions that block his office from enforcing an existing law. Tuesday's ruling is the latest development in Missouri's ongoing legal battle over abortion. In November, it became the first state where voters used a ballot measure to overturn an existing, sweeping abortion ban ― triggering legal challenges from the state's Republican-controlled government. And earlier this month, state Republicans passed a referendum to put abortion back on the ballot. The proposed amendment will likely appear before voters in November 2026, though it's possible Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe could call for a special election sooner. RFK Jr. Says He's Exploring A Crackdown On This Perfectly Safe Medication 2 Of Trump's Court Picks Argued Abortion Pill 'Starves The Baby To Death' In Womb Georgia Abortion Law Forces Brain-Dead Woman To Stay On Life Support For Months
