Wisconsin Supreme Court Clears Path for Abortion Access

Wisconsin's highest court has just made a big decision. They ruled that an old law from 1849 does not actually ban abortions. This is a huge deal because it means abortion services can keep operating in the state. The confusion started when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. That decision took away federal protections for abortion, leaving states to decide their own laws. Wisconsin found itself in a tricky spot because of that old 1849 law. Some argued it made abortion illegal, while others said it was more about protecting women from violence. After a lot of back-and-forth, the court finally made its call. They said that newer laws about abortion have basically replaced the old one. This means the 1849 law doesn't stand in the way of abortion access anymore. But not everyone agrees with this decision. Some critics say the court picked and chose which laws to follow. They argue this is more about politics than the law. The ruling also leaves some questions unanswered. The court didn't get into whether the old law goes against the state constitution. This could lead to more debates and even future court cases. Right now, Wisconsin has a divided government. The state legislature is controlled by Republicans, while the governor is a Democrat. This makes it unlikely that any big changes to abortion laws will happen soon. But things could shift after the next elections in 2026.