By Sarah Neely
Jefferson City, MO – Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a lower court to vacate rulings that allowed abortions to resume last March in the once abortion-free state.
Following the narrow passage of Amendment 3, which enshrined abortion up to “viability” in the state constitution, Judge Jerri Zhang of the 16th Circuit granted injunctive relief for Planned Parenthood, the main plaintiff in Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains & Planned Parenthood Great Rivers vs. Missouri.
The lawsuit was filed the same day Amendment 3 passed, along with a motion for a preliminary injunction against the abortion ban already in place, as well as laws on gestational limits, safety regulations, informed consent, and many others.
“In the months that followed, Judge Zhang gave Planned Parenthood exactly what it wanted,” comments Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, “unfettered, unregulated abortion in a pro-life state.”
The Missouri Supreme Court did not uphold Judge Zhangs’ decisions, but it also did not close the door on injunctions altogether. Instead, the decision ordered Judge Zhang to “reevaluate” Planned Parenthood’s request under a “more rigorous standard.” This means another injunction could be granted down the road.
Until then, however, Planned Parenthood has ceased committing abortions at its Kansas City and Columbus locations. In fact, according to the Planned Parenthood website, the Kansas City location is completely closed until further notice.
“We don’t know how long this reprieve will last,” says Newman, “but we are thankful that the blood of innocent children in Missouri cannot be shed at this moment. And it’s encouraging to see a state Planned Parenthood thought it had conquered with a pro-abortion amendment fighting back and fighting hard. Add the new pro-life amendment headed to the ballot, and Missouri has a serious chance at reestablishing near total protection for babies in the womb.”
Just weeks before the Missouri Supreme Court’s order to vacate, lawmakers approved a new ballot measure that will repeal last year’s abortion amendment and reinstate pro-life laws, including a near total ban on abortion.
Originally, Judge Zhang granted injunctive relief partly on the grounds that Planned Parenthood was likely to win their case due to the passage of Amendment 3. The full case is set to be heard in early 2026. However, if this new referendum passes later that year, any further injunctions as well as this whole lawsuit will be moot. Without Amendment 3, Planned Parenthood will have nothing to stand on.
Newman adds, “Of course, as is the case with so many other crumbling Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and Great Plains seem to be putting hoards of money and resources towards turning Missouri into an abortion desolation while their own employees are speaking out against dysfunction and abuse within their clinics.”
Even Planned Parenthood’s support of Amendment 3 was rife with internal conflicts. Just two months after the amendment passed, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers’ Chief Medical Officer made national news when she publicly resigned – reportedly the ninth resignation within PPGR since choosing to campaign for the amendment.
Five years earlier, Planned Parenthood Great Plains had “incurred substantial legal expenses” from endless lawsuits and challenges to pro-life laws. The end result was laying off dozens of employees who were already complaining of a toxic work culture, lack of transparency from the administration, and a chaotic work environment. Of course, CEO Brandon Hill was taking home a salary of more than $200,000 while these other employees were being ushered out the door.
“Planned Parenthood can’t seem to understand that even its own employees aren’t buying its ‘care no matter what’ facade anymore,” says Newman. “Care? About what? Its next politically-driven lawsuit? Six-figure salaries for its CEOs? Planned Parenthood is nothing more than a corrupt, Big Abortion money-pit. It doesn’t care about the lives of babies in the womb, or the mothers in their lobbies, or even the employees behind their desks. Missouri doesn’t need Planned Parenthood, and neither does anyone else.”
This report may be republished with inclusion of the following acknowledgement: “This article was originally published by Operation Rescue, a leading pro-life, Christian activist organization dedicated to exposing abortion abuses, demanding enforcement, saving innocent lives, and building an abortion-free America. The author, Sarah Neely, is Chief Operating Officer for Operation Rescue.”
