Wyoming judge blocks abortion ban from taking effect News
© WikiMedia Commons (Elvert Barnes)
Wyoming judge blocks abortion ban from taking effect

Wyoming Judge Melissa Owens granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday against the state’s abortion ban, protecting abortion access while litigation against the law moves forward.

“The legislature cannot pass a discriminatory law on the basis of sex that restricts the constitutionally protected right to make one’s own health care decisions,” Judge Ownes wrote.

Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon, a Republican, signed Wyoming’s abortion “trigger law” in March, which was to take effect if the US Supreme Court overturned the abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade, which it did on June 24.

When the ban took effect on July 27, Owens granted a temporary restraining order suspending the law immediately after as a lawsuit was filed by women’s health non-profit Wellspring Health Access, abortion access group Chelsea’s Fund, and others claiming the law violates Wyoming’s state constitution. Owen’s latest ruling Wednesday keeps the law currently suspended.

A total of thirteen states had “trigger laws” ready to restrict abortion following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that had established nationwide abortion rights. This has led to a large number of legal challenges and lawsuits across these states with plaintiffs fighting for abortion rights.