Judge hears first lawsuit to challenge Missouri's abortion ban

In November 2024, voters in Missouri approved a constitutional amendment that granted the right to abortion, rolling back a nearly total ban previously enforced by the state. Following the passage of the amendment, Planned Parenthood sought to resume abortion services at multiple clinics. However, these plans are currently on hold due to ongoing legal challenges that are complicated by existing state laws, which the amendment does not explicitly override. Missouri remains one of five states to add abortion rights to their constitution following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to return abortion regulation to the states. The legal landscape in Missouri continues to be challenging. Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has indicated his intent to enforce old regulations, including a 72-hour waiting period, despite acknowledging that most abortions will be legal under the new amendment. This has left abortion-rights advocates grappling with a patchwork of old laws that might undermine the newly established constitutional rights. Activists claim that these restrictions are detrimental to women seeking care. Additionally, soon after the new amendment passed, state lawmakers proposed several bills aimed at rolling back abortion rights or increasing the barriers for future amendments. Some proposals include defining life as beginning at conception and adding requirements for rape survivors to file police reports as a condition for receiving an abortion. These legislative moves have sparked discussions about the potential for undermining voter intent and the will of the people in relation to reproductive rights. In the courts, Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have initiated lawsuits against Missouri’s near-total abortion ban and other regulations they argue hinder access to abortion. The outcome of the case is currently pending, as Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang prepares to hear arguments over the ban’s legality in light of the new amendment. The legal battles illustrate the ongoing struggle between state interests and the rights established by voters through the amendment process.