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Multiple state officials and entities filed an appeal Friday with the Missouri Supreme Court to challenge a Jackson County judge's decision that struck down many abortion restrictions.
Judge …
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Multiple state officials and entities filed an appeal Friday with the Missouri Supreme Court to challenge a Jackson County judge's decision that struck down many abortion restrictions.
Judge Jerri Zhang ruled in June that several state laws regarding abortion restrictions violated Amendment 3, or the "Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative," which Missouri voters passed in November 2024.
The ruling cleared the way for Planned Parenthood locations in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia to provide medication abortions.
Several petitioners signed on to the appeal, including Gov. Mike Kehoe, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration for the Healing Arts and the Missouri Division of Professional Registration Board of Nursing.
The appeal challenges the validity of a part of the Missouri Constitution, which means it must be heard by the Missouri Supreme Court.
"The court’s order offers minimal-to-no explanation regarding why these statutes and regulations 'conflict' with [provisions in the Missouri Constitution]," a court document reads.
According to court documents, the Jackson County Circuit Court found that many of Missouri's abortion laws violate the Missouri Constitution and cannot be enforced.
Defendants include Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.
Zhang's ruling in June said state laws about abortion restrictions, licensing requirements for abortion facilities, requirements for complications plans for medication abortions and criminal penalties for abortion providers were unconstitutional.
Kehoe agreed with Hanaway's appeal to the decision, and said that the ruling was "disappointing, dangerous, and puts the safety of Missouri women in jeopardy," according to previous KOMU 8 coverage.
He also voiced support for an anti-abortion measure, also titled Amendment 3, that will be on the ballot in November.
"Missourians do not support this irresponsible reversal of patient safety standards," Kehoe said in June. "Now more than ever, it’s critical for Missourians to vote YES on Amendment 3 in November and make it abundantly clear that our state stands for life and the protection of mothers."
The ballot measure asks Missourians to amend the state constitution to ban most abortions, allowing exceptions in cases of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
