Federal court dismisses challenge to Michigan constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights

During the 2022 election, Michigan voters approved a measure enshrining abortion rights and protections for reproductive freedom within the state Constitution, offering residents a safeguard in the wake of the federal Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion regulation to the states.

While proponents of reproductive freedom celebrated the proposal’s success and the subsequent repeal of the state’s abortion ban, several anti-abortion advocates filed a case in federal court, arguing the amendment to the state constitution violated several provisions of the federal charter.

However, that challenge was dismissed on Tuesday by Judge Paul Maloney of the U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan’s Southern Division.

The plaintiffs – which include Right to Life of Michigan, state Reps. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland) and Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) and state Sen. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) among other abortion opponents – argued the measure reduces legal protections for women, deprives parents of the ability to make decisions about medical treatment for their children and burdens the free exercise of religion, violating the First Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.


https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/federal-court-dismisses-challenge-to-michigan-constitutional-amendment-protecting-abortion-rights/