Abortion will remain legal in Wyoming, albeit temporarily, as a judge on Wednesday ordered that the recently enacted abortion ban be blocked until further court proceedings in a lawsuit challenging it. The law would have made providing almost all abortions a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. After a three-hour hearing, Judge Melissa Owens of Teton County District Court granted a temporary restraining order, pausing the law that took effect last Sunday.
The lawsuit, filed by six plaintiffs, including four health care providers, challenges another law that would make Wyoming the first state to explicitly ban the use of pills for abortion. The medication abortion ban and the overall ban will be considered at a hearing, where the plaintiffs will seek an injunction to suspend both laws until the full lawsuit can be heard. A central issue is whether Wyoming’s constitution allows the legislature to ban nearly all abortions, as it includes an amendment that guarantees adults the right to make their own health care decisions. In 2012, an overwhelming majority of Wyoming citizens voted for the amendment.
The judge’s decision to temporarily block the ban has been widely welcomed by reproductive rights advocates. The Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming filed the lawsuit against the state. The lawsuit argues that the abortion ban violates the constitutional rights of Wyoming residents and that it is an attempt to restrict women’s access to reproductive health care.
According to the lawsuit, the law would force women to travel long distances to access abortion services, which would be difficult for those in rural areas with limited transportation options. The plaintiffs argue that the law would also disproportionately affect low-income women, women of color, and those living in poverty.
The ruling comes as abortion rights are being challenged across the United States. The US Supreme Court is currently considering a case from Mississippi that could significantly limit abortion access across the country. It is unclear when the Wyoming case will be fully resolved, but the temporary restraining order will remain in place until further court proceedings.