Kansas gets it right re: reproductive rights!

[WOT?*]

Kansas Supreme Court says state constitution guarantees reproductive rights and access to abortion.

www.npr.org/2019/04/26/717449336/kansas-supreme-court-rules-state-constitution-protects-right-to-abortion?fbclid=IwAR3Ax_2ZJVk7RyFYLItaRl0Itaao-IfueziOlYzkRjFEAx9qh_GtbJCjr1g

The Kansas Constitution protects a woman's right to an abortion, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday.


The landmark ruling now stands as the law of the land in Kansas with no path for an appeal. Because it turns on the state's Constitution, abortion would remain legal in Kansas even if the Roe v. Wade case that established a national right to abortion is ever reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

* * *

The decision, in which one of the seven justices dissented, cites in its first sentence the first section of the Kansas Constitution's Bill of Rights: "All men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The decision continues: "We are now asked: 'Is this declaration of rights more than an idealized aspiration? And, if so, do the substantive rights include a woman's right to make decisions about her body, including the decision whether to continue her pregnancy? We answer these questions, 'Yes.' "



The court continued that "this right allows a woman to make her own decisions regarding her body, health, family formation, and family life — decisions that can include whether to continue a pregnancy."

"The State may only infringe upon the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy," the ruling continued, "if the State has a compelling interest and has narrowly tailored its actions to that interest."

[scout8]

I read the full article. They heard oral arguments in March of 2017. It took them two years to rule!

[ESF]

This is amazing. What a relief for the women of Kansas. Not to mention, this will be helpful for so many women beyond Kansas. It's a central state, and will be an important oasis for some women in nearby states.

[pugz]

As a Kansan I am so surprised by this! But our Supreme Court is actually pretty great even of a lot of the rest isn’t