STATE & NATIONAL: On Thursday, the Missouri Supreme Court announced its recent ruling affecting current abortion laws. The new ruling now states that an amendment proposed to enshrine abortion and reproductive rights in the state constitution will be placed on the November ballot.
By Anne M Erbynstein
Today, the state of Missouri has developed potential statutes that will affect the future of abortion rights in the state. The amendment aims to restore abortion rights in Missouri by establishing a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care.
In accordance with the amendment, the state would remove current restrictions on abortion and protect abortion rights up until fetal viability, around the 24th week of pregnancy, giving exception to protecting the life or health of the mother.
A circuit court had previously ruled that the text of the amendment failed to meet state requirements by not naming the sections of Missouri law that would be affected. However, the Supreme Court reversed this decision, allowing the amendment to be placed on the ballot.
The group behind the amendment, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, had submitted the required number of signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot.
Missouri state officials’ decision overturned a lower court ruling that had removed the amendment from the ballot just days before. In the process, the state’s decision is significant, giving voters inthe state the power to decide on this critical issue in the upcoming election.
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