Wisconsin Supreme Court keeps elective abortions legal
Wisconsin Supreme Court keeps elective abortions legal
Good news from the Wisconsin Supreme Court: A pre-Civil War era law that would have banned abortions illegal in Wisconsin, was denied in a ruling.
This case spawned from the Dobbs decision, which brought the pre-Civil War law into play, and made abortion in Wisconsin a question mark. This paused abortions across the state. Later, in 2023, though, a Dane county ruling opened the door that allowed some clinics to continue abortion care, including Planned Parenthood in Madison.
The question of abortion also set off the nationally spotlighted Wisconsin Supreme Court races both in 2022 and 2025. Abortion, linked to healthcare, and economic security, and human rights, was a true engine for the more liberal judges being elected — and creating a Musk-infused opposition in 2025.
Abortion advocates, and those who care about reproductive care, bodily autonomy, and healthcare more broadly, can all breath a bit easier.
Wisconsin’s 19-century abortion ban is no longer in effect, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
The 4-3 high court ruling cements the effects of a lower court ruling, which previously invalidated a ban on most abortions in Wisconsin.
As a result of the lower court ruling and Wednesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, elective abortions remain legal in Wisconsin up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.