The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a lower court judge in Jackson County to vacate previous rulings that had blocked the state’s abortion regulations from taking effect.
Missouri’s near-total abortion ban prohibits abortions except in cases of medical emergency. However, Missouri residents voted on Nov. 5, 2024, to repeal the law and allow abortion until fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Shortly after the vote, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion ban and regulations that restrict abortion access.
In December 2024, Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang ruled that the state’s abortion ban was unenforceable and blocked abortion laws, including a 72-hour waiting period, but maintained some licensing requirements for health facilities….