Missouri and Arizona Brace for Legal Showdowns Over Abortion Rights Amendments

Reproductive rights organizations are preparing for legal battles in Missouri and Arizona following the approval of constitutional amendments that safeguard abortion access by voters this month. Although the legislation represents substantial victories for abortion rights advocates, it is anticipated that its implementation will encounter significant opposition, particularly in conservative states such as Missouri.

One of the most restrictive abortion prohibitions in the nation is challenged by Missouri's Amendment 3, which enshrines abortion rights up to fetal viability. Republican legislators and anti-abortion organizations have expressed their intention to oppose the amendment's implementation, despite its passage. The ACLU of Missouri has already filed a lawsuit to overturn the state's nearly complete prohibition on abortions and permit clinics to recommence their operations. Just before the amendment's implementation, a hearing has been scheduled for December 4.

In the same vein, Arizona's Proposition 139 establishes a constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability. Nevertheless, it is in direct opposition to the state's existing 15-week abortion law and more than 40 care restrictions. It is anticipated that legal challenges will arise as groups attempt to overturn conflicting laws.

Even after voter support, the complexities of undoing entrenched abortion prohibitions and restrictions are emphasized by the battles in these states. To guarantee reproductive rights in both states, advocacy organizations anticipate months of litigation.

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