FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — For now, abortion will remain legal in Wyoming, as the state's highest court struck down laws that included a ban on abortion pills. The ruling confirms that these laws violate the Wyoming constitution, marking a pivotal moment for reproductive rights in the state.
The Supreme Court sided with the state’s only abortion clinic and advocacy groups that have fought against these legislative measures, which emerged after the U.S. Supreme Court's controversial decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Gov. Mark Gordon expressed disappointment over the ruling, advocating for lawmakers to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide on a future ban on abortion.
One of the laws overturned aimed to restrict abortions to only life-threatening situations, while another sought to be the first to explicitly ban abortion pills. The latter was particularly contentious as it could have made Wyoming the only state with such a prohibition.
Abortion has technically remained legal in Wyoming due to a previous court ruling that blocked the enforcement of these new bans during ongoing legal challenges.
The justices remarked on the complexity of the issue, pointing out that while the amendment referring to patient rights does not explicitly mention abortion, it is vital to recognize where the law stands in the context of evolving societal values.
