The Missouri Supreme Court on May 27 ordered a Jackson County judge to vacate two rulings that allowed abortions to resume in the state.
In a Feb. 14 ruling, Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang blocked a licensing requirement for abortion facilities. Her December ruling temporarily halted several other abortion regulation laws in light of the passage of Amendment 3.
Surgical abortions resumed in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis this spring. The May 27 Supreme Court order means the restrictions that prevent abortions in the state are back in place for now. A bench trial in the case is scheduled for January 2026.
While the state awaited the bench trial, Attorney General Andrew Bailey had asked the Supreme Court in March to intervene. The court ruled that Zhang had not used the correct standard when issuing the temporary injunctions in February and December.
“Today’s decision from the Missouri Supreme Court is a win for women and children and sends a clear message — abortion providers must comply with state law regarding basic safety and sanitation requirements,” Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a May 27 statement.
