Judge rules Wyoming abortion ultrasound law unconstitutional

NATRONA COUNTY, Wyo. (KIFI) — A Wyoming judge has struck down a law requiring women to receive an ultrasound before obtaining medication abortion drugs, ruling the requirement violates the Wyoming Constitution.

In a decision issued Friday, Natrona County District Court Judge Thomas T.C. Campbell ruled House Bill 64, known as the Ultrasound Requirement, is unconstitutional. The law required women seeking a medication abortion to undergo an ultrasound at least 48 hours before receiving abortion medication.

The judge also struck down two other abortion-related laws passed by the Wyoming Legislature, including a law requiring abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers and part of a law restricting protections for off-label prescriptions used to induce abortions.

The lawsuit was brought by abortion providers, physicians and advocacy groups, including Wellspring Health Access in Casper.

In his ruling, Campbell found the state failed to prove the laws were necessary to achieve a compelling government interest, as required under Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution, which guarantees adults the right to make their own health care decisions.

Supporters of House Bill 64 argued the ultrasound requirement would help identify ectopic pregnancies and protect women's health. However, the court found the state did not provide sufficient evidence showing the law addressed an actual problem or improved patient outcomes.

The ruling comes months after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down Wyoming's abortion bans, finding they also violated the state's constitutional protections for health care decisions.