The Kansas Supreme Court struck down two abortion-related laws on Friday: one that banned dilation and evacuation abortions and another detailing safety regulations for abortion clinics.
The court overturned a 2015 ban of dilation and evacuation, or “D&E,” abortion, a procedure that is banned in more than 30 states. Also known as dismemberment abortions, this procedure is typically done in the second trimester of pregnancy and results in the dismemberment of an unborn child and the crushing of his or her skull.
The court also struck down a 2011 law that detailed safety regulations and licensing requirements for facilities that provided second- or third-trimester abortions, or more than four first-trimester abortions in a month. The Kansas Supreme Court found that this infringed on a women’s right to bodily autonomy.
The rulings were made 5-1 with one judge abstaining. The two laws had already been temporarily paused due to the lawsuits.
