Missouri Judge Strikes Down State Abortion Laws

Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang ruled that 40 Missouri statutes conflicted with a 2024 voter‑approved constitutional amendment that restored abortion rights. The decision voided requirements such as two in‑person doctor visits at least 72 hours apart and the mandate that the first abortion‑pill dose be taken in front of a doctor.

The ruling follows the 2024 amendment that reversed the state’s trigger ban enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Governor Mike Kehoe denounced the decision, while Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced an appeal. Planned Parenthood announced it will resume appointments and begin prescribing medical abortion pills in Missouri for the first time since 2018. A ballot initiative seeking to overturn the amendment is slated for the November election.