Kentucky Woman Challenges State's Abortion Ban in Court

A woman in Kentucky, referred to as Mary Poe, has taken a big step. She's suing the state because she can't get an abortion there. Kentucky has strict laws that almost entirely ban abortions. Poe says these laws violate her right to privacy and self-determination under the state constitution. She's not alone; the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is backing her up. They argue that these laws cause serious harm to people like Poe who need this healthcare. Poe is around seven weeks pregnant and has to go out of state for the procedure. This means she has to take time off work and find childcare, which is a huge burden. Poe wants to make sure other Kentuckians don't have to go through the same struggle. The lawsuit asks the court to declare the laws unconstitutional and unenforceable. It also seeks class-action status for all pregnant people in Kentucky facing the same issue. Kentucky is one of many states that have either banned or severely restricted abortions since the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.