Several states halt or pause abortions after Supreme Court overturns Roe

On Friday, word spread that abortion facilities began to close or pause abortions as a result of the decision by the Supreme Court case in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Below is a state-by-state breakdown of what Live Action News has learned, and this list may be updated as needed.

Alabama

Robin Marty, operations director for West Alabama Women’s Center, reported on Twitter that due to the Supreme Court decision the abortion facility was sending its currently booked abortion clients out of state.

Marty also tweeted, “Well, the AG just announced all laws not already enjoined are now in effect so yes, our pre-[R]oe abortion ban is enforcable [sic]. That was the end, folks. No more legal abortion in Alabama.”

Meanwhile, Alabama AG Steve Marshall ordered abortion facilities in the state to cease and desist operations. And in a press release, stated, “Because neither the United States Constitution nor the Alabama Constitution provides a right to abortion, Alabama laws that prohibit abortion and that have not been enjoined by a court are in full effect. For those laws that have been halted by courts, the State will immediately file motions to dissolve those injunctions. Any abortionist or abortion clinic operating in the State of Alabama in violation of Alabama law should immediately cease and desist operations.”

According to a recent report by AL.com, “Alabama has five clinics that provide abortion services… Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood clinics in Mobile and Birmingham said they would stop providing abortion services due to a lack of staffing.” An Alabama Department of Health report showed that Alabama residents had a total of 7,466 abortions in 2020, a slight decline from the year before, the paper also reported.

The pro-abortion Jezebel blog reported that in April Planned Parenthood Southeast halted abortion services in Alabama due to what a spokesperson said were staffing changes at both the health center and executive level.

Arizona

Planned Parenthood Arizona wrote online, “Because Arizona’s legal landscape is complex, PPAZ will pause abortion services at this time to protect our staff and patients.” An announcement was also published on the group’s Facebook page, that read, “Planned Parenthood Arizona has made the difficult decision to pause abortion services because of the complex legal landscape in our state.”

The Arizona State Senate Republicans issued a release which said, “In preparation for this day Arizona State Senate Republicans this session have worked to secure increased funds for the 50 pregnancy centers of Arizona, as well as to support mothers with pre- and post-natal care.”

Arkansas

Planned Parenthood in Arkansas is no longer offering abortions in the state, writing online, “Arkansas abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood Great Plains, are no longer able to offer abortion in the state. And Arkansans will now be forced to travel hundreds of miles, hours from their homes, for essential health care.”

At the same time, Benny Johnson tweeted that Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge “certified the trigger law making Abortion illegal in Arkansas and providers can now face up to 10 years in prison.”

“Today the prolife movement is victorious,” said AG Rutledge. “I have a long history of fighting for the unborn, and it is my greatest honor to officially end abortion in Arkansas. Roe was wrong on the day it was decided, and today, we can protect every innocent life in Arkansas.” She also tweeted, “Today, it was my greatest honor to officially end abortion in Arkansas. Roe was wrong on the day it was decided, and now we can protect innocent lives in Arkansas.”

Florida

Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida wrote on its website, “The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade — the court’s landmark decision that established the right to abortion nearly 50 years ago. Abortion care is still safe, legal, and accessible in Florida despite this ruling. However, a 15-week abortion ban is set to go into effect for Florida on July 1, 2022 unless it is blocked in the courts.”

Kentucky

According to Channel3000.com, “Kentucky’s so-called trigger laws means abortion has largely been outlawed in the state upon the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday.” The report adds, “The state’s only two abortion clinics, both in Louisville, halted abortions Friday. The Kentucky law passed in 2019 declares that abortion would become illegal “effective immediately” if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The measure contains a narrow exception allowing a physician to perform a procedure necessary to prevent the death or permanent injury of a pregnant woman.” [emphasis added] (See news report here.)

Louisiana

Louisiana’s Department of Health sent out a letter to all three abortion facilities in the state, informing them of the Court decision and writing in part that the LDH expects each clinic to abide by the laws of the state on abortion. In addition, WWLTV.com is reporting that Louisiana’s three remaining abortion businesses have closed.

 

Missouri

Missouri’s AG Eric Schmitt tweeted, “With the Dobbs decision just handed down and a stroke of my pen — Missouri became the first state to effectively end abortion and has become the most Pro Life state in America.”

Mississippi

Mississippi’s only abortion business, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will remain open until at least July 4th,” tweeted a local journalist. This business was at the center of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court case.

North Dakota

A pro-abortion lawmaker in the state tweeted, “Red River Women’s Clinic is the last clinic in NoDak, and due to a trigger law outlawing abortion upon this ruling, they need to move to MN to continue serving their patients. Lots of other states will have clinics in this exact predicament…” A GoFundMe page set up for the facility reads in part, “As a state with a trigger-ban in place, North Dakota would ban abortion in 30 days if Roe v Wade is overturned. This clinic-contingency plan a few miles away (and across the Red River) is the best option to ensure care is not interrupted for people seeking abortions in this region…. Space has been purchased in Moorhead, MN but renovations and furnishings are needed while care continues at the Fargo, ND location (as long as it is legally allowed). Operating one clinic while renovating another will be incredibly expensive and capital is needed.”

Oklahoma

As of late May, Planned Parenthood in Oklahoma is no longer providing abortions according to tits website. On June 7, 2022, PBS News reported, “[A]bortion providers here in the state have effectively ended abortions. They are not providing them right now. The four clinics in the state stopped them, both medical and surgical abortions. Planned Parenthood operates two clinics here in the state, and they actually stopped providing abortions after the six-week ban went into effect in early May.”

And according to Jezebel, “The independent clinic group, Trust Women, had also halted care at its Oklahoma location for a few weeks in April, before resuming abortions on April 22 and continuing until the law took effect.” Trust Women’s website reads, “As of May 26th, 2022, abortion is illegal in Oklahoma. House Bill 4327 makes all abortions illegal after fertilization, with limited exceptions for rape and incest (only if reported to law enforcement), as well as to save the life of a pregnant person in a medical emergency.  If you are an Oklahoma resident, pregnant and in need of an abortion, you will have to find an out-of-state provider.”

Today, Governor Kevin Stitt tweeted a video of AG John O’Connor certifying a state ban abortion in Oklahoma. Senator Greg Treat tweeted, “Just received this from the AG. Our ‘trigger bill’ has been triggered. The AG has now officially certified this and Oklahoma can immediately start enforcing laws on the books that value life!”

South Dakota

Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, Planned Parenthood in the state made the decision to halt abortions.

DakotaNewsNow.com reports that the day the Court decision dropped, Governor Noem “announced a new website with links to federal resources and information on raising a child or giving your baby up for adoption. Noem announced a new website, now that abortion is officially a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a $4,000 fine in South Dakota. The website has information separated into four categories: pregnancy, new parents, financial assistance, and adoption.”

“In South Dakota, we value life. But being pro-life doesn’t just mean caring about the unborn. It also means getting moms the help they need to be successful,” said Noem. “We’re launching Life.SD.gov to give women the resources they need to navigate pregnancy pregnancy, birth, parenting, and adoption, if they choose.”

Currently, the only exception in South Dakota’s law criminalizing abortion, which the legislature passed in 2005, is if there is an “appropriate and reasonable medical judgement” that an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the mother, the news media reported.

Tennessee

Planned Parenthood in Tennessee, which currently protects preborn children starting at six weeks and will soon enact its trigger law, held an emergency press conference stating that it “grieved the loss of abortion access in Tennessee.” The organization vowed to “never stop fighting like hell,” saying it would remain open and assist clients obtaining abortions elsewhere. On its website, the organization previously wrote, “Due to recent changes in Tennessee law, PPTNM can no longer provide medication or surgical abortion services at our health centers.”

According to WPLN.com, “Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is moving quickly to try and limit abortions after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Slatery has already asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift an injunction on the 2020 6-week abortion ban that has never been enforced. The 85-page emergency motion filed this morning requests action be taken immediately. The court gave plaintiffs, including Planned Parenthood, until Monday to respond.”

Texas

Planned Parenthood South Texas wrote online, “Due to the recent Supreme Court ruling, we have paused abortion services while we review with legal counsel to understand what it means for abortion access in Texas. At this time, we are unable to provide additional information concerning abortion access, and we’re asking people take their questions to abortionfinder.org…”

Jeffrey Hons, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, told the Texas Tribune that abortions at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, and Planned Parenthood South Texas have all ceased —a fact also reported by the Austin Statesman. A press conference held on Zoom, where Planned Parenthood officials discussed the decision’s impact was published by NewsChannel6Now.com.  Other abortion facilities in the state are also making similar statements.

The Whole Woman’s Health abortion chain made an announcement on Twitter that they are pausing abortions in Texas, which includes Austin, Fort Worth, McAllen, and McKinney. According to the Texas Tribune, “Alamo Women’s Reproductive Health, which provides abortion services in San Antonio, has also stopped providing abortions Friday, said Andrea Gallegos, the clinic’s executive director.” Lilith Fund, a large abortion-funding organization, has stopped funding abortions in Texas.

Southwestern Women’s Options, which has a facility in Texas, posted a notice stating that the Dallas facility would remain open to provide other reproductive services, but had ceased providing abortions.

Texas AG Ken Paxton tweeted, “Abortion is now illegal in Texas.” In a written release, Paxton stated, “Roe v. Wade and its successor case Planned Parenthood v. Casey have absolutely no basis in the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, for half a century, Americans have had to live under these illegitimate, illegal, and unconstitutional dictates of a partisan, willful Supreme Court. No more. Today, the question of abortion returns to the states. And in Texas, that question has already been answered: abortion is illegal here. I look forward to defending the pro-life laws of Texas and the lives of all unborn children moving forward.”  Adding, “I am closing all my offices as a memorial to these babies. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of them. Never again should something like this happen in America.”

Utah

KUTV.com reports, “Planned Parenthood of Utah will continue to offer reproductive services, but once the trigger ban is officially in place, they said they will no longer be offering comprehensive reproductive care. Abortion will effectively be off the table. The organization said four clinics in the state offer abortions; three of them being Planned Parenthood.”

West Virginia

“The only abortion clinic in West Virginia is no longer performing abortions, as of today,” tweeted an AP reporter. She added in a separate tweet, “The clinic staff spent Friday canceling the appointments of 60-70 patients scheduled for abortions in the coming weeks. ‘Some patients broke down and could not speak through their sobbing. Some patients were stunned and didn’t know what to say. Some patients did not understand.’”

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Public Radio reported, “In Wisconsin, the state’s 173-year-old abortion ban is once again the law of the land, making the procedure illegal unless deemed medically necessary to save the patient’s life. Providing an abortion is now a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.” A video published online and a report by WISN12 claims the group had abortion clients in the waiting room this morning, who were sent home after the Court’s ruling.

 

Planned Parenthood told media the group halted abortions and according to WPR.com, “Shortly after the ruling was released, Tanya Atkinson, president & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, shared a video message saying the agency had been immediately forced to suspend abortion services.” The report also states, “Nearly 70 abortion procedures with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin scheduled for Friday and Saturday had to be canceled, the agency’s Medical Director Kathy King (watch video) told the Associated Press. The group helped patients book appointments in nearby states where the procedure remains legal,” the report states. Atkinson told CBS58.com that abortions will be suspended “until we receive clarification from a court about whether the law is enforceable.” She went on to say they are exploring all legal options.

In addition to Planned Parenthood, according to WPR.com, “Lucy Marshall, president of Women’s Medical Fund in Madison, said no clinics in Wisconsin are providing abortion care as of Friday morning. But her group has laid the groundwork for partnerships with organizations in Illinois and Minnesota where abortions are still legal under state law. “

Editor’s Note: This post may be updated.

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