MADISON, Wis. — In an opinion released this morning, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court struck down efforts to use an 1849 law as a near-total abortion ban. The court’s decision affirms a prior Dane County Circuit Court ruling that the archaic law does not apply to consensual abortion care.
“The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling in this case is a historic step forward in protecting and expanding abortion rights in Wisconsin,” said Lucy Ripp, Communications Director at A Better Wisconsin Together. “We applaud the progressive majority on the court for taking this case and ruling to protect Wisconsinites’ right to access abortion care.”
The court’s decision comes as new polling shows that Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly support abortion access and Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Republicans at their party convention in May endorsed using the 1849 law to ban abortion. State legislative Republicans have voted repeatedly in favor of dangerous abortion bans and Congressional Republicans voted this week to defund Planned Parenthood.
“In the face of relentless attacks from Republicans, the vast majority of Wisconsinites have said time and time again that decisions on abortion should be made between a patient and their doctor, not politicians,” said Ripp. “With this new ruling from our state’s highest court, it’s time for Wisconsin Republicans to stop forcing their way into our exam rooms and finally put an end to their repeated attacks on our access to reproductive healthcare.”
