Missouri became the first state to effectively end abortion, just minutes after the Supreme Court announced their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Following the release of the SCOTUS opinion, Attorney General Eric Schmitt issued an opinion to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes that "triggers" parts of Missouri’s House Bill 126.
Section B of House Bill 126, also known as the "Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act," states, "The enactment of section 188.017 of this act shall only become effective upon notification to the revisor of statutes by an opinion by the attorney general of Missouri…"
Section 188.017 states, in part, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no abortion shall be performed or induced upon a woman, except in cases of medical emergency…"
With those portions being triggered with the opinion from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, abortion, except in cases of medical emergency, is now outlawed in the State of Missouri. 🚨 BREAKING 🚨 Following the SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Missouri has just become the first in the country to effectively end abortion with our AG opinion signed moments ago. This is a monumental day for the sanctity of life. pic.twitter.com/Jphy72R4rq
— Attorney General Eric Schmitt (@AGEricSchmitt) June 24, 2022
"Today, following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, with the issuance of an attorney general opinion, my Office has yet again reinforced Missouri’s dedication to protecting the sanctity of life, both born and unborn. With this attorney general opinion, my Office has effectively ended abortion in Missouri, becoming the first state in the country to do so following the Court’s ruling," said Attorney General Schmitt in a statement provided to Timcast. "My Office has been fighting to uphold the sanctity of life since I became attorney general, culminating in today’s momentous court ruling and attorney general opinion. I will continue the fight to protect all life, born and unborn."
AG Schmitt's opinion states, "By issuing this Attorney General Opinion No. 22-2022 and providing it directly to you, I hereby provide notification to the Revisor of Statutes, pursuant to § 188.017.4(1), that the United States Supreme Court has overruled, in whole or in part, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), restoring or granting to the state of Missouri the authority to regulate abortion to the extent set forth in § 188.017, RSMo, and that as a result, it is reasonably probable that § 188.017 would be upheld by the court as constitutional."
The opinion issued on June 24 asserted that Roe was "egregiously wrong" and "on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided."
"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," Justice Samuel Alito wrote. "Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division."
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the Roe court "usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people."
Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan filed a joint dissent.
"Whatever the exact scope of the coming laws, one result of today’s decision is certain: the curtailment of women’s rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens," the dissenters wrote.
Laws related to abortion will now be returned to the states to decide.
Schmitt, a constitutional conservative, is currently running for US Senate.
