Overview

• Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens struck down Wyoming's total abortion ban and its unique prohibition on abortion pills, citing constitutional violations.
• The ruling aligns with a 2012 state amendment ensuring residents' rights to make their own healthcare decisions, which Owens found the abortion laws violated.
• The laws were challenged by four women, including two obstetricians, and two nonprofit organizations, asserting harm to health and livelihoods.
• Governor Mark Gordon's administration, which passed the laws, is expected to appeal the decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
• This decision follows a trend of states enacting or upholding abortion rights, with recent voter support for similar measures in seven states.