Kansas Supreme Court Protects Abortion Rights

The Kansas Supreme Court permanently blocked the state from enforcing a law that banned the most common second-trimester abortion procedure, citing a violation of the right to abortion under the state constitution. The ruling stemmed from a 2015 law challenged by abortion providers, with the court affirming the right to personal autonomy, including the right to terminate a pregnancy. In a separate decision, the court also struck down a state law imposing extensive regulations on abortion providers, deeming it unconstitutional for exceeding necessary health service requirements. These decisions reaffirm women's constitutional right to abortion and the limitations on legislation in this domain in Kansas.