Twenty attorneys general file amicus brief against Missouri abortion restrictions

Twenty Democratic state attorneys general on Tuesday joined a multistate amicus brief in a challenge to abortion restrictions in Missouri.

“Nearly 50 years ago, the courts ruled that women across the country have the right to control their own bodies, but nearly every day since, anti-choice legislators have tried to impose their personal beliefs on the wills of millions of women nationwide,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.

The state’s sole remaining abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of St. Louis, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colleen McNicholas have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn two laws that restrict abortion in the state: a “reason ban” that prohibits pre-viability abortion if a doctor knows it is “solely because” of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, and various bans based on different gestational ages ranging from eight to 20 weeks.

A U.S. district court has issued a preliminary injunction against both laws, but the state has appealed in both cases.

“These laws simply aim to control our bodies, control our choices, and control our freedom, which is why we will never stop fighting. We will not allow Missouri, nor any other state to undo all the progress we have made by restricting access to safe, legal abortions,” James added.

“No government, state or federal, has the right to make personal decisions for a woman about her body or her healthcare,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

“Missouri’s anti-choice laws are blatantly unconstitutional and leave women in Missouri with no option within the state for safe, legal abortion care. We will continue to stand with women and the Constitution to protect their access to comprehensive healthcare,” he added.

The other attorneys general joining the brief are those representing Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.