Wyoming’s sole abortion clinic has resumed offering abortion services following a judicial suspension of two state laws. The first law, which required clinics to obtain licenses as outpatient surgical centers for conducting surgical abortions, and the second, mandating ultrasounds before medication abortions, were temporarily halted on Monday. This development comes after the Wyoming Health Access clinic in Casper ceased abortion services on February 28, a day after the licensing requirement was enacted by Republican Governor Mark Gordon. This pause forced some women to seek abortion services outside of Wyoming. With the court’s suspension of these laws, women can again access abortion services within central Wyoming as the legal challenges continue.
The clinic’s founder and president expressed the importance of informing their patients about the resumption of services. Meanwhile, opponents of abortion questioned the clinic’s resistance to the laws, suggesting compliance could affirm the safety of their operations. Despite Wyoming passing several abortion bans since 2022, including a prohibition on abortion pills, these measures have faced judicial challenges. A judge in Jackson previously blocked and subsequently struck down these bans, citing a 2012 state constitutional amendment that upholds the right of competent adults to make health care decisions.
The Wyoming Supreme Court recently heard arguments on this matter. As legal proceedings continue, the same advocates contesting the bans—Wellspring Health Access, an abortion rights group, and four women, including two obstetricians—have filed lawsuits against the recent abortion laws. The surgical center licensing requirement, according to the clinic, would necessitate expensive renovations to comply. Governor Gordon had vetoed the ultrasound requirement due to its potential burdens in cases of abuse, rape, or health risks. However, state legislators overrode this veto on March 5. The ultrasound mandate, although not significantly disrupting clinic operations, led to a suspension of pill abortions to avoid legal issues. Critics view such regulations as targeted restrictions potentially dismantling abortion access despite its legality.
In his decision blocking the laws pending the lawsuit’s outcome, District Judge Thomas Campbell in Casper ruled that the laws potentially infringe on constitutional rights. Despite facing new legal hurdles, Wellspring Health Access continues to offer patient consultations and hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals. The clinic, which opened in 2023 after overcoming significant damage from an arson attack, remains committed to its mission amid these ongoing challenges.
