Clock ticking for judge to allow Planned Parenthood to provide abortions

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Planned Parenthood was hoping to begin offering abortions in Kansas City on Thursday. That’s the day that Missouri’s Amendment 3 went into effect. But first, they need a judge to issue a temporary restraining order, directing the state not to enforce current abortion laws while the lengthy legal process related to constitutionality winds its way through the courts.

The Amendment 3 ballot measure, called the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, placed in the state constitution that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted,” with some narrow exceptions.

Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit on Nov. 6, the day after the election, setting a deadline of Dec. 5 in its request for a temporary restraining order. That date is 30 days from the election and when the amendment automatically takes effect.

READ MORE: Judge weighs whether to pause Missouri’s abortion ban before Amendment 3 goes into effect

A lawyer not involved with the case explained the next steps as follows. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang has three options. She can grant the request, deny it, or do nothing. If the latter happens, the request lapses at midnight. That’s not the end of it, however, because Planned Parenthood can then file again.

The lawsuit references numerous laws, including outright bans, bans based on gestational age or reasons for seeking abortion as well as laws that regulate providers in ways that the lawsuit considers onerous. It asks the court to declare those laws unconstitutional as well as temporarily, then permanently, prevent the state from enforcing those laws.

The judge did issue an order early Thursday evening, but it weighed in on a procedural matter and did not pertain to the request for injunction.

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