When the U.S. Supreme Court undid the nationwide right to abortion last year, it did not remove the issue from the courts.
Instead, it opened a new frontier of litigation, with states passing their own restrictions and opponents challenging them in courts across the country.
This week, three state courts are hearing arguments on abortion, including a request in Texas that could establish a new legal approach for women who are seeking immediate access to the procedure because of pregnancy complications.
Some things to know about the cases:
A Texas woman seeks permission for an immediate abortion
Most of the lawsuits that have been filed against bans and restrictions are seeking to secure general access to abortion.
But last week, a Texas woman pregnant with a terminally ill fetus decided not to wait for those challenges to be resolved. Saying that her condition poses a risk to her health and future fertility, she asked a court forpermission to obtain an abortionimmediately.
Doctors told 31-year-old Kate Cox that their hands were tied despite the Texas law’s exception for when a woman’s life is at risk and that she would have to wait for the fetus to die or carry the pregnancy to term.
A state district judgeissued an orderon Thursday allowing Cox to receive an abortion. The state attorney general filed an appeal, arguing that Cox’s situation does not meet the criteria for an exception. He also warned that anyone providing the abortion could still face legal consequences. On Friday, thestate’s supreme courtput the lower-court ruling on hold.
Apregnant woman in Kentuckyis also seeking immediate access to an abortion, but the claim she filed Friday does not cite exceptions to that state’s law; rather it argues that the ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy violates the state constitution.
Arizona’s dueling laws
There’s been confusion and litigation over which law applies. Currently, abortions are available during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, based on acourt ruling last yearthat said doctors can’t be prosecuted for providing abortions during this time frame.
The Arizona Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday on whether the pre-statehood ban of 1864 which would prohibit abortions at any stage of pregnancy should apply.
Meanwhile, Arizona abortion rights supporters are pushing to get aballot question before votersnext year that would undo both bans. Advocates in other states are attempting to put similar questions on the ballot following thesuccess of such a measure in Ohiolast month.
A battle between local and state laws in New Mexico
That hasn’t stopped some conservative city and county governments in the blue state from passing local abortion bans.
The state’s Democratic attorney general is challenging those bans, saying they violate the state constitution’s provision prohibiting discrimination based on sex and pregnancy status.
Most of the local laws have been put on hold by the New Mexico Supreme Court while it considers the issue. The courtwill hear argumentson the challenge on Wednesday.
Legal wrangling in Wyoming
In July, Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owenspaused enforcement of a banon abortion at all stages of pregnancy while she weighs whether to hold a trial on a challenge to the ban.
Owens is holding a hearing Thursday to choose between a trial or making a decision more quickly based on legal arguments put before her.
Prior to that, the state Supreme Court whose five members were all appointed by Republican governors will hear arguments Tuesday on whether to let two lawmakers and Right to Life of Wyoming intervene in the case. They contend that Republican state Attorney General Bridget Hill should defend the ban with evidence, not just legal arguments.
Hill said in a court filing that while she doesn’t object to parties being added, the case should be decided solely on the legal arguments.
The state has just one clinic that provides abortions with both medication and surgery. The Casper clinic opened in April, after a nearly yearlong delay because ofdamage from an arson attack. A second, in Jackson, which provides only medication abortion, has said it is closing this week because of high rent and other costs.
Changing laws in Michigan
The bill repeals a law that had banned insurance coverage for abortion without purchase of a separate rider. The law, coined rape insurance by opponents, was passed exactly 10 years ago by a state Legislature that was controlled by Republicans.
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