FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld the legality of abortion in the state, ruling against laws that included a first-of-its-kind ban on abortion pills. This decision, made on Tuesday, reinforces the protections guaranteed under the state constitution.
In a 4-1 ruling, the justices sided with Wellspring Health Access, Wyoming's only abortion clinic, and other plaintiffs who challenged the restrictive legislation enacted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. They argued these laws infringe on a state constitutional amendment that ensures competent adults retain the autonomy to make their own health care choices.
Attorneys representing the state contended that abortion does not constitute health care under the Wyoming constitution. However, the justices clarified that while the constitutional amendment was not originally intended to cover abortion, their duty was not to reinterpret its language.
The justices left the door open for Wyoming lawmakers to create a constitutional amendment specifically addressing abortion rights, indicating that such a measure could be presented to voters in the future.
Governor Mark Gordon voiced his discontent with the ruling, emphasizing the need for the legislature to pursue a constitutional amendment aimed at banning abortion, suggesting that public sentiment in Wyoming warrants such a vote. The proposed amendment would require significant legislative support, reflecting the state's majority Republican stance.
Among the overturned laws, one aimed to ban abortions unless a pregnant woman's life was at risk or in cases of rape or incest, while the other sought to restrict access to abortion medications, potentially making Wyoming unique for its stringent measures. The ruling ensures that these bans will not be enacted, after a lower court originally blocked them as unconstitutional.
While abortion remains protected in Wyoming, further legislative actions may come in response to the ongoing national discourse on reproductive rights.
