Abortion Rights: Minnesota's Constitutional Protections Explored

Abortion is constitutionally protected in Minnesota. The state's highest court has recognised the right to abortion under the Minnesota Constitution and, in 2023, the state created a statutory right to reproductive freedom. In 1995, the Minnesota Supreme Court found that the Minnesota Constitution guarantees the right of every Minnesotan to terminate a pregnancy. Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in Minnesota and is restricted only to standards of good medical practice.

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Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in Minnesota

The Minnesota Constitution guarantees the right of every Minnesotan to terminate a pregnancy. The Court explicitly found that the Minnesota Constitution offers broader protection than the United States Constitution of a person’s fundamental right to make reproductive healthcare choices without state interference. This remains the case despite the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Minnesotans' rights continue to be protected.

In 2023, Minnesota repealed numerous medically unnecessary restrictions, including a viability ban, a waiting period and biased counselling. CPCs are private organisations that attempt to prevent or dissuade pregnant people from accessing their constitutionally protected right under the Minnesota Constitution to a safe and legal abortion.

About 10,000 abortions occur each year in Minnesota. In a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, 52% of Minnesota adults said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 45% said that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled abortion is a constitutional right

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that abortion is a constitutional right. In Doe v. Gomez, the Court found that the Minnesota Constitution guarantees the right of every Minnesotan to terminate a pregnancy. This decision means that abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in Minnesota, and is restricted only to standards of good medical practice.

The Court's ruling has been supported by subsequent legislation. In 2023, the DFL-led Minnesota Legislature passed, and Governor Tim Walz signed into law, a bill to recognise a right to reproductive freedom and prevent local governments from limiting that right. The state also repealed numerous medically unnecessary restrictions, such as a viability ban, a waiting period, and biased counselling.

The Center for Reproductive Rights labels Minnesota as one of the most abortion-protective states in the country. CPCs, private organisations that attempt to prevent or dissuade pregnant people from accessing abortions, are constitutionally protected under the Minnesota Constitution.

The Minnesota Constitution offers broader protection than the US Constitution

Abortion in Minnesota is legal at all stages of pregnancy and is restricted only to standards of good medical practice. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that the Minnesota Constitution conferred a right to an abortion, and the state's highest court has recognised the right to abortion under the Minnesota Constitution. In 2023, the state created a statutory right to reproductive freedom and repealed numerous medically unnecessary restrictions.

CPCs are private organisations that attempt to prevent or dissuade pregnant people from accessing their constitutionally protected right under the Minnesota Constitution to a safe and legal abortion. The Center for Reproductive Rights labels Minnesota as one of the most abortion-protective states in the country.

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The state has created a statutory right to reproductive freedom

In 1995, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Minnesota Constitution conferred a right to an abortion. In 2023, the state created a statutory right to reproductive freedom, recognising a right to reproductive freedom and preventing local units of government from limiting that right. The state's highest court has recognised the right to abortion under the Minnesota Constitution, and in 2023, the state enacted numerous statutory protections. Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy and is restricted only to standards of good medical practice.

The Minnesota Supreme Court's 1995 decision in Doe v. Gomez found that the Minnesota Constitution guarantees the right of every Minnesotan to terminate a pregnancy. The Court explicitly found that the Minnesota Constitution offers broader protection than the United States Constitution of a person’s fundamental right to make reproductive healthcare choices without state interference. This remains the case despite the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Minnesotans' rights continue to be protected.

In 2023, Minnesota repealed numerous medically unnecessary restrictions. CPCs are private organisations that attempt to prevent or dissuade pregnant people from accessing their constitutionally protected right under the Minnesota Constitution to a safe and legal abortion. The Center for Reproductive Rights labels Minnesota as one of the most abortion-protective states in the country. About 10,000 abortions occur each year in the state. In a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, 52% of Minnesota adults said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 45% said that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.

CPCs are private organisations that attempt to prevent abortions

Abortion is constitutionally protected in Minnesota. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that the Minnesota Constitution conferred a right to an abortion, and this was reaffirmed in 2023 when the state created a statutory right to reproductive freedom. CPCs (Crisis Pregnancy Centres) are private organisations that attempt to prevent abortions by dissuading pregnant people from accessing their constitutionally protected right to a safe and legal abortion. CPCs often use manipulative tactics, such as providing false or misleading information about abortion, to convince people to continue their pregnancies. Despite the efforts of CPCs, abortion remains legal in Minnesota at all stages of pregnancy and is only restricted to standards of good medical practice. The Center for Reproductive Rights labels Minnesota as one of the most abortion-protective states in the country.

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