Wisconsin Supreme Court Overturns 1849 Abortion Ban in Major Ruling

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban is no longer valid. The court’s liberal majority voted 4-3 to strike down the law, saying it has been replaced by newer abortion regulations.

The old law, passed in 1849, made it a felony for anyone except the mother to end a pregnancy. It stated that “intentionally destroying the life of an unborn child” was a crime.

However, the justices said that modern abortion laws, passed over the last 50 years, provide detailed rules about when and how abortions can happen. These newer laws focus on fetal viability—meaning whether the fetus could survive outside the womb.

“We hold that the legislature repealed the 1849 law by implication,” the court ruling said. “It no longer bans abortion in Wisconsin.”

This decision comes as a major moment for reproductive rights in the state, especially following recent national debates around abortion access. It also sets a strong legal precedent in Wisconsin for future abortion cases.

The ruling means abortions will remain legal in the state as long as they follow current medical laws and restrictions.

This is a developing story. More updates will follow.