JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., May 28 — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated the state’s near-total abortion ban, overturning two lower court decisions that had temporarily blocked it. The ruling allows the ban to take effect once again—at least for now.
The high court found that Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang had used the wrong legal standard when issuing injunctions against the law. In its opinion, the Supreme Court cited a prior decision that requires “a more rigorous standard” when courts block state laws.
While the justices ordered Judge Zhang to vacate her earlier rulings, they also instructed her to re-evaluate the case under the correct legal framework. This means the injunctions could potentially be reissued, depending on her new findings. The broader lawsuit challenging the ban has not yet gone to trial.
Missouri’s abortion ban was triggered automatically in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating federal protections for abortion access.
In November, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights up to fetal viability—typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy. In response, Planned Parenthood sued the state, arguing the ban violated the new constitutional protections.
Judge Zhang initially ruled in December that the abortion ban was unconstitutional but left certain licensing restrictions intact, which continued to limit abortion access. In February, she struck down those licensing rules, allowing Planned Parenthood to resume providing abortions.
The Missouri attorney general appealed both rulings, prompting the Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have advanced a separate ballot measure aimed at repealing the abortion rights amendment approved by voters. The proposal could appear on the ballot as soon as a special election or during the regular election cycle in 2026.
For now, Missouri’s abortion ban remains in effect as legal battles continue over the future of reproductive rights in the state.
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