On Monday, a state judge overturned Wyoming’s sweeping abortion ban and the nation’s first explicit prohibition on abortion pills. Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens has previously halted these laws three times since 2022 while they were being contested in court.
This latest decision is another win for those advocating for abortion rights, especially following recent voter support in seven states for measures promoting access to abortion.
One of the laws that Judge Owens deemed unconstitutional restricts abortions solely to situations where a pregnant woman’s life is at risk or in cases of rape and incest.
The other law made Wyoming unique by outright banning abortion pills, although several other states have effectively restricted access to these medications through broad bans on abortions overall.
The challenge against these laws was brought forth by four women, including two obstetricians, alongside two nonprofit organizations. One of these groups, Wellspring Health Access, opened its doors as Wyoming’s first full-service abortion clinic in years after an arson incident in 2022.
Julie Burkhart, president of Wellspring Health Access, expressed her joy over the ruling: This is a wonderful day for the citizens of Wyoming and women everywhere who should have control over their own bodies.
In November’s elections, voters in Missouri took steps to roll back one of the country’s strictest abortion bans—another victory for advocates fighting for reproductive rights.
Meanwhile, Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota turned down similar constitutional amendments that would have loosened restrictions.
Other states like Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, and Montana saw successful passage of abortion rights amendments as well. In Nevada too voters approved an amendment but will need to reaffirm it in 2026 before it becomes law.
Additionally, New York passed legislation preventing discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes.
Things really shifted last year when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—a decision that ended federal protections for abortion rights and allowed many Republican-led states to impose bans quickly.
Thirteen states now have total bans on abortions at any point during pregnancy with limited exceptions; four others enforce restrictions around six weeks into pregnancy—often before many women even know they’re expecting.
Almost all these bans are facing legal challenges; courts have blocked some restrictions like those seen in Utah and Wyoming regarding full-term bans.
Just last month judges also struck down similar prohibitions in Georgia and North Dakota; however Georgia’s Supreme Court has decided that their ban can still be enforced while they review the case.
In their arguments against the laws in Wyoming, challengers pointed out how these restrictions could negatively impact their health and livelihoods—a claim that state attorneys disputed vigorously.
They also referenced a 2012 amendment to Wyoming’s constitution affirming residents’ rights to make their own healthcare decisions.
Just like in her earlier decisions, Owens saw value in both sides of the argument. She stated that the abortion bans could really hurt the medical field by limiting doctors’ ability to offer evidence-based care to their patients.
Additionally, she noted that these laws infringe on women’s fundamental rights to make healthcare choices for themselves and others who are pregnant, which goes against a constitutional amendment passed in 2012.
That amendment was approved by Wyoming voters who were worried about government interference after the federal Affordable Care Act was enacted and started requiring people to have health insurance.
The state’s attorneys claimed that healthcare under this amendment didn’t include abortion services. Republican Governor Mark Gordon, who enacted the abortion laws in 2022 and 2023, hasn’t yet responded to an email asking for his thoughts on this ruling.
Both parties were hoping Owens would make a decision on the lawsuit regarding the abortion bans instead of letting it drag out into a trial next spring. They had originally planned for a three-day bench trial with Owens, but now that’s off the table thanks to her ruling.