This, published by the Jackson Hole News was sent over to us from a Teton Dem.
Text in the image:
A Teton County
judge is passing along the burden
of deciding whether two abortion
bans passed in 2023 are consti-
tutional.
In an order filed Monday af-
ternoon, Ninth Judicial District
Judge Melissa Owens sent 14
questions up to the Wyoming
Supreme Court to be answered.
The questions include whether
the bans violate sections of the
Wyoming Constitution granting
citizens the right to make their
own health care decisions, the
right to privacy, equal protection
and religious freedom.
Owens also asked whether the
bans – one a general ban on
abortion and the other a ban on
medication abortion – are
un-constitutionally vague. Both were
halted by Owens from taking
effect while the case plays out.
Both sides asked Owens to
decide the case now, before a trial.
Six plaintiffs – two doctors, two
women of childbearing age and
two abortion access nonprofits –
are challenging the bans while
the state, Gov. Mark Gordon and
the Wyoming Attorney General
want to see the bans take effect.
In late 2022, the Wyoming
Supreme Court declined to an-
swer 12 constitutional questions
Owens sent regarding a since
defunct trigger ban, writing
that the factual record had not
been developed enough. This
time, Owens waited until more
evidence was introduced.
The Supreme Court will have
30 days to decide whether to
agree to answer the questions.