JACKSON, Wyo. — Abortions remain legal in Wyoming after a judge granted a temporary restraining order against enforcing the state’s medication abortion ban in the Teton County District Court Thursday afternoon.
The restraining order granted by 9th District Court Judge Melissa Owens means that medical and surgical abortions remain legal in the Cowboy State for the time being.
The ban would have taken effect in July if Owens had not delayed it.
In March, the Wyoming Legislature passed two abortion bans. Both pieces of legislation, HB152 “Life is a Right to Human Life Act” and SF109 “Prohibiting chemical abortions,” have been blocked by temporary restraining orders granted by Judge Owens.
Since then, the State of Wyoming and plaintiffs who argue that abortion is health care have been at odds in the courts over the constitutionality of the legislation.
Although these temporary restraining orders are in place, these pieces of legislation can still go into effect in the future.
According to WyoFile, “Even if the plaintiffs do succeed at the district court level in Jackson next April, this particular suit is expected to be kicked up to the Wyoming Supreme Court for a final ruling.”
A trial that will decide whether abortion will remain legal in Wyoming is set to take place across three days in Teton County in April 2024.
