Judge Melissa Owens Strikes Down Wyoming Abortion Bans on Monday

Nov 19, 2024, 03:48 AM

A state judge in Wyoming has struck down the state's overall ban on abortion and its first-in-the-nation explicit prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy. The ruling, issued by Judge Melissa Owens on Monday, declared that the two laws violated women's rights under the state constitution, specifically citing medical autonomy. This decision aligns with a growing trend of voters in various states supporting abortion rights. The ruling makes abortion legal in Wyoming up until fetal viability. Judge Owens had previously blocked these laws multiple times while they were being challenged in court. The case is expected to be appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court, where all justices were appointed by Republican governors. Local media reported on the ruling.