Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


Michigan’s most significant remaining restrictions on abortion were deemed unconstitutional and violate rights to reproductive freedom – per a recent court ruling.

Today, in its opinion in Northland v. Nessel, the Michigan Court of Claims ruled that several of the state’s most significant remaining restrictions on abortion access are in clear violation of the state’s constitutionally protected right to reproductive freedom - which Michiganders overwhelmingly voted for with Proposal 3 in 2022.

The Court found the mandatory 24-hour waiting period, the mandatory uniform informed consent requirements, and the ban on advanced practice clinicians providing abortion care are unconstitutional.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following statement in response:

“The Court has rightly recognized that these provisions did nothing but burden and obstruct access to abortion care. This ruling affirms what Michiganders made clear when they voted to enshrine a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in our state constitution: that deeply personal medical decisions belong to individuals and their providers. I will continue fighting to defend reproductive freedoms and protect bodily autonomy for Michigan residents.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement:

“Today’s Court of Claims ruling reaffirms that Michigan is a state where you can make your own decisions about your own body with a trusted health care provider, without political interference. In 2022, Michiganders voted overwhelmingly to enshrine abortion rights in our state constitution, and in 2023, I was proud to repeal our extreme 1931 abortion ban and sign the Reproductive Health Act, which removed politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion. Today’s ruling means that patients and doctors are no longer subject to even more of these outdated restrictions on abortion, including the forced waiting period and a ban on advanced practice clinicians from performing abortions. This ruling gives us a chance to celebrate Women’s Health Week the best way we know how—by protecting and expanding women’s fundamental rights and freedoms.”