NOVEMBER 20, 2024|
Photo – Judge Melissa Owens of Teton County – Courtesy reddit.com
Governor Mark Gordon reacted yesterday to Monday’s court ruling striking down two Wyoming abortion bans, calling the Teton County judge’s ruling “frustrating.”
District Court Judge Melissa Owens struck down the state’s two abortion bans, saying they are unconstitutional and blocked them from being legally enforced.
“Regardless of her decision,” the governor said in a statement, “It was clear that there would be an appeal. I remain committed to defending the constitutionality of this law and the sanctity of life.”
The governor directed Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill to review the judge’s decision and to prepare an appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
One of the plaintiffs in the case before Judge Owens, Dr. Giovannina Anthony, an abortion provider in Jackson, acknowledged this week that the state will likely appeal the judge’s ruling or that the legislature may work on a ballot measure restricting the abortions during the upcoming session.
Several state lawmakers have already pledged that the legislature will go back to work on the issue during the session. Among them are Majority Floor House Leader Chip Nieman, who said the judge’s ruling “sickens” him.
“To take a baby and look at it and say it’s not valuable—we give more respect to animals than we do to human beings,” the Hulett rancher said in reaction to Monday’s judicial decision in support of abortion. “How is that okay?”
Earlier this year, Governor Gordon vetoed a bill passed by the legislature that would have required a woman to have an ultrasound procedure performed on her fetus before having an abortion.
Rep. Neiman promised that the bill would be back in the upcoming session, among others.
