A Wyoming abortion clinic is set to resume its services after a judge halted the enforcement of two state laws on Monday. One of these laws mandated that clinics offering surgical abortions must be licensed as outpatient surgical centers, while the other required women to undergo an ultrasound before obtaining a medication abortion.
Wyoming Health Access in Casper had ceased its abortion services on February 28, shortly after Republican Governor Mark Gordon approved the licensing law. This temporary suspension compelled several women seeking abortions to travel to neighboring states. Fortunately, with the recent legal developments, the clinic will be able to serve women in central Wyoming once more, as the contentious laws continue to be challenged in court. Julie Burkhart, the founder and president of Wellspring Health Access, announced the resumption of services on Monday, stating, “We are immediately shouting it from the rooftop to make sure our patients know. We are back to seeing patients the way we were on February 27.”
Nonetheless, some abortion opponents question the need to counter the laws if clinic operations remained safe. Ross Schriftman, president of Natrona County Right to Life, argued that complying with these laws could demonstrate the clinic’s commitment to safety.
Despite multiple attempts to restrict abortion in Wyoming since 2022, the practice maintains its legal status. In a significant legal move, bans, notably the country’s first explicit prohibition on abortion pills, were blocked by a judge in Jackson, who later invalidated them in November, citing a 2012 state constitutional amendment that assures adults’ rights to make autonomous healthcare decisions.
The Wyoming Supreme Court recently entertained arguments on this issue, though a verdict is not expected for several weeks. Meanwhile, the parties contesting the bans—comprising Wellspring Health Access, Chelsea’s Fund, a group advocating for abortion access, and four women including two obstetricians—have launched a lawsuit to challenge Wyoming’s latest abortion laws.
In their lawsuit, the clinic contends that the requirement to revamp the clinic to meet surgical center standards is financially burdensome. Although Governor Gordon had initially vetoed the ultrasound mandate, deeming it demanding in cases such as abuse, rape, or when a woman’s health was at risk, lawmakers overrode his veto on March 5. Although the ultrasound stipulation did not severely impact the clinic’s operations, Wellspring Health Access ceased providing pill abortions to sidestep potential legal issues, as the law would increase the costs and challenges for women seeking pill abortions.
Critics categorize such regulations, like Wyoming’s, as “targeted restrictions on abortion providers,” as they can effectively stifle clinics and restrict access even if abortion itself is still legal. In a recent decision, District Judge Thomas Campbell in Casper determined that enforcing these laws could also potentially breach constitutional rights, prompting him to block them while legal proceedings are underway.
In spite of these legal hurdles, Wellspring Health Access has remained operational, providing consultations and offering hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals. The clinic, which opened in 2023, faced initial delays of nearly a year after enduring severe damage from an arson attack.