Abortions have once again come to a halt in Missouri after a State Supreme Court decision reaffirmed the enforcement of the state’s near-total abortion ban, solidifying its status as one of the strictest in the nation.
The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the state’s Attorney General, rejecting a legal challenge that sought to ease restrictions under the current law. The decision effectively reinstated a total cessation of abortion services, with the only narrow exception being in cases where the life of the pregnant woman is at risk.
Following the ruling, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region announced it would stop providing abortions at its Fairview Heights clinic — the last facility in the state that had continued offering the service in a limited capacity. Clinic officials confirmed that appointments have been canceled and patients redirected to out-of-state providers.
“This is a devastating day for reproductive rights in Missouri,” said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region. “We are once again in a place where politicians, not doctors, are making decisions about people’s health and futures.”
Missouri’s abortion ban was originally triggered in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion. The state’s “trigger law” immediately banned the procedure, but litigation had allowed for temporary exceptions in practice. Tuesday’s decision removed those remaining openings.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey praised the ruling, stating: “Missouri remains a national leader in defending the unborn. Today’s decision affirms that our laws mean what they say.”
Opponents of the ban argue it disproportionately harms low-income residents who cannot afford to travel out of state for care. Advocacy groups have pledged to continue fighting the law through a proposed 2024 ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in the Missouri Constitution.
For now, Missouri joins a growing list of states where abortion is effectively inaccessible, intensifying the legal and political battles over reproductive rights in America.
