Missouri just had a judge step in and tell a handful of the state's abortion restrictions to take a seat. Why? Because, she said, they were directly contradicting a constitutional amendment that voters, not politicians, approved just last year.
Most of these rules were already in legal limbo, but this new ruling is a game-changer. Planned Parenthood in Missouri quickly announced they'd be prescribing abortion pills again. That's a significant shift, considering they haven't been able to do that since 2018.
It's a clear win for those who support abortion access, but let's not pop the champagne just yet. The state has already declared it's appealing the decision. And, because apparently that's where we are now, voters will see another ballot measure soon that could potentially undo everything.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Judge vs. the Rules
Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang presided over a 10-day trial earlier this year, meticulously examining 40 state laws to see if they squared with the 2024 amendment. Her conclusion was pretty clear: mostly, they didn't.
She shot down rules like forcing women to make two doctor visits 72 hours apart, and the rather particular requirement that the first dose of an abortion pill had to be taken with a doctor present. (Because, you know, taking medication is usually a team sport.) Abortion pills, for the record, are now the most common method of abortion.
One rule did stick around, though: patients still need an in-person doctor's visit to confirm pregnancy stage and check for ectopic pregnancies. A small nod to medical necessity, perhaps.
Missouri, you might remember, was the first state to slap a total abortion ban into place after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Even before that, they had a pretty impressive legislative obstacle course designed to make abortion access as difficult as possible.
But then, in 2024, Missouri voters did something groundbreaking: they became the first state to pass a constitutional amendment undoing a ban, allowing abortion until fetal viability (around 21 weeks). That's when Planned Parenthood sued, pushing for these restrictions to be lifted.
A Pill-Sized Opening
Following the ruling, Planned Parenthood Great Plains CEO Emily Wales pointed out that politicians had basically exiled patients from the state for care. Now, she says, that care is returning, pushing Missouri closer to the reproductive freedom its citizens actually voted for.
This also means clinics can keep offering abortion procedures, which is nice for continuity. Before this ruling, an estimated 300 abortions were still happening each month for Missouri women, thanks to providers in other states who mail abortion pills. These providers operate under laws designed to shield them from legal action. Let that satisfying number sink in.
Last year, a staggering 12,000 Missouri women had to travel to Illinois and Kansas just to access abortion care. That's a lot of road trips.
The Fight Continues (Because, Of Course)
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway wasted no time announcing an appeal, dramatically calling the outcome a "Pandora's box" and warning that Missouri women would "pay the price." Because nothing says good governance like a little apocalyptic hyperbole. And just to keep things interesting, abortion will be on the ballot again in November, with voters deciding on a measure that could, yet again, reverse the 2024 amendment. Because why make anything simple when you can make it a never-ending saga?.
